The armed forces of the Philippines will at all times be resolute in making certain the curiosity of Filipinos within the West Philippine Sea, below the steerage of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s imaginative and prescient specified by his speech in the course of the alumni homecoming on the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City on Saturday.
In a press release on Sunday, the AFP stated that its troops are “always ready to provide a safer, more peaceful and progressive country.”
Also, the AFP requested Filipinos for his or her “support and prayers for the Armed Forces, and the Philippine Coast Guard in the conduct of maritime patrols to protect and preserve what rightfully belongs to us,” the assertion added.
In his speech on the PMA 2023 Homecoming rites on Saturday, President Marcos reiterated his pledge to maintain each inch of the Philippine territory.
“This country will not lose one inch of its territory. We will continue to uphold our territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with our Constitution and with international law. We will work with our neighbors to secure the safety and security of our peoples,” Marcos stated.
Marcos’ feedback got here days after the Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest over China Coast Guard’s use of military-grade laser, and harmful maneuvers in opposition to Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Malapascua on February 3, whereas on a resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed in Ayungin Shoal.
In the identical speech on the PMA homecoming, Marcos additionally stated the laser-pointing incident was solely part of what might be seen as an act of escalating the PH-China rigidity over maritime dispute.
“The laser-pointing incident was only a part of what we are seeing as intensifying or escalating of the actions of the militia — marine militia of China, the coast guard of China, and the navy of China,” Marcos said.
But he also emphasized what he told Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian during their meeting in Malacañang, “[w]e need to discover a method round this as a result of if we’re such shut pals resembling China and the Philippines, these usually are not the sort of incidents that we ought to be speaking about.”
He said he also reminded Xilian that “the aggressive acts of China in opposition to the Philippine Coast Guard, and Filipino fishermen was not agreed upon in his assembly with Chinese President Xi Jinping.” —LBG, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
