PH should prepare for nuclear crisis’

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‘PH should prepare for nuclear crisis’

THE Philippines should start preparing a disaster management program in case the dispute between South and North Korea escalates and ends in a nuclear war, according to Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.

Santiago said that since the Philippines is a non-nuclear player, it cannot do anything to help prevent the escalation of the crisis. However, it can start preparing for the possible effects of a nuclear explosion.

She warned that the Philippines would severely suffer from a nuclear warfare, thus, the government should prepare for a possible nuclear disaster.

“In our country, residual radiation could cause severe damage to human health such as leukemia, congenital defects and mental retardation,” Santiago said.

The senator, who is an expert on international law, noted that the country should also have on the ready analyses of certain laws applicable in armed conflict such as human rights and genocide conventions, principles of neutrality and environmental law.

She said the government should emphasize that it is neutral, and that North Korea must observe the principles of neutrality.

“In other words, North Korea should not do any harm to us because we are not a player in this game,” Santiago told reporters after delivering a speech at the commencement exercises of Our Lady of Fatima University at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

In additional to the principle of neutrality, she said the Philippines is also protected by the principles of environment law, which prohibits the use of weapons which have “widespread, long lasting or severe effects” on the environment.

However, the Philippines’ neutral position could change in case North Korea decided to bomb the United States mainland. The country has a mutual defense treaty (MDT) with the US.

She explained that under the MDT, the Philippines is obliged to help the US in case it is attacked.

Santiago however expressed doubt if North Korea has weapons capable of reaching US targets.

Also, she said it would be suicidal for North Korea to carry out a nuclear strike against South Korea and other countries.

“But there is this isolated black swan phenomenon wherein the unthinkable happens,” Santiago said.

Written by JEFFERSON ANTIPORDA REPORTER

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/top-stories/45145-ph-should-prepare-for-nuclear-crisis