We asked Vice Presidential candidate Gringo Honasan the same question asked to Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach during the Top 5 segment of Miss Universe 2015. Here is the question (slightly edited for relevance):

“Last year, there was a controversy about the United States reopening of military base in our country. Do you think the United States should have a military presence in the Philippines?

Just like Pia, Honasan is in favor of the US military presence in the country.

“YES. Because we do not have the capability to defend ourselves in anytime. So what’s the point? Abay magpalakas tayo para hindi na tayo aasa sa US. Eto gut feel ko lang ito, sa palagay ko naguusap ang China at ang US e. Paborito lang tayong laboratory kasi ang gugulo natin. Dito tayo maglaro, ang gugulo ng mga pulitiko nila. Ngayon eleksyon na naman, hindi natin alam kung ano ang mangyayari. Anyway diyan tayo mag-eksperimento para hindi tayo ang magsalpukan. Sa kanila kasi klaro ang national interest nila. Ang problema sa atin, hindi klaro sa atin e. So lagi tayong pinaglalaruan at nagagamit. Tayo ang may hawak ng traffic light, kung EDSA ‘yang West Philippine Sea, tayo ang may hawak ng traffic light. Tayo ang may kontrol. Can you imagine how much leverage we have?”

“Second, I’m not pro-US or anti-China. ‘Yung US kinolonize tayo. ‘Yung China hindi. Mas matagal ang ugnayan natin sa China. ‘Yung back chaneling na ginawa ng iba, aba’y ginagawa yan outside the limited information that reaches media. Pag back channel, back channel, tahimik para hindi nagkakahiyaan. Kapag seryoso na ang usapan, then press conference tayo. Pero ‘pag back channel, usapang seryoso. At walang pulaan, dahil buhay ang nakataya rito e. So ‘yun ang dapat na isa-alangalang. So naniniwala ako na imposibleng hindi naguusap ang China at ang US dahil ang laki ng utang ng US sa China e.”

Watch the full answer below:

4-time senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II is the running mate of Vice President Jejomar Binay, standard-bearer of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), for this year’s elections. He will be facing Senators Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo for the Vice Presidential race.