AFP’s main challenges: Preserving, protecting Philippines territory, sovereignty

MANILA, Philippines — Without specifically mentioning the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the country’s current problems with China in the area, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said preserving and protecting Philippine territory and sovereignty tops the military’s main challenges for 2024.

In his message during the traditional New Year’s call in Camp Aguinaldo yesterday, he said the Department of National Defense (DND) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should remain united in accomplishing the goal.

Teodoro said the mission is “to preserve and protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of the Philippines; maintain peace and order; work together with allies to make, not only the Philippines, but this region – the Indo-Pacific Region – and the world a better place to be in.”

He issued the statements amid China’s increasing presence and aggressiveness in the WPS marked by harassment and water cannon attacks on Philippine vessels inside the country’s exclusive economic zone in 2023.

Teodoro, during the event, said transforming the whole defense department, with its civilian bureaus and the AFP, will continue into the new year.

“We thank the whole defense family for the cooperation that they have shown last year in the midst of our attempts to transform our organization into a new defense organization with new skills, new paradigms and new capabilities,” he said.

“We shall continue that effort this year and we hope that we have the same unconditional cooperation from each and every one of you,” he added.

Teodoro said he is grateful that the DND and AFP have the unconditional support of the commander-in-chief, President Marcos, and encouraged members of the defense establishment to stay united.

“We shall be blessed because we are one, we are united and we cannot be divided because we have a mission,” Teodoro, who has been very vocal in countering and denouncing China’s aggressive actions in Philippine territorial waters, said.

For his part, AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said that for 2024, the military organization will focus on the development of materiel and capabilities through its modernization program, adding that the military will also prioritize the organizational development of its reserve force.

“It is through these transformative efforts that we aim to elevate our military capabilities across all dimensions. The new year marks the genesis of a more dedicated, professional and modernized Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.

‘Fishy’

Sen. Imee Marcos found suspicious the United States’ aborted plan of transferring 39 million gallons of fuel from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to Subic Bay.

“All the more fishy,” the sister of President Marcos said in a message to reporters yesterday.

She was reacting to reports that the US-registered commercial tanker Yosemite Trader cancelled its request for port call at Subic.

The senator cited US embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay that the planned transfer of the oil cargo onboard the tanker was “proper” and compliant with “logistics contracts with Philippine commercial entities.”

“Weren’t we assured just yesterday that the shipment went through the proper channels and is a standard commercial transaction?” Marcos said.

She earlier demanded an explanation from authorities for allowing in secret the shipment of 39 million gallons of fuel, a volume which the senator found “way past standard commercial transaction.”

“If it was legitimate, they should have pushed through with it. Where’s all that gasoline now – polluting Philippine waters and the entire Pacific?” she said.

Marcos scored the plan to use Subic Bay as a storage facility for US fuel when it is not a site under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

She expressed suspicion that the US is prepositioning military supplies in the Pacific amid its diplomatic row with China over Taiwan.

“The Mutual Defense Treaty is not a license to leave the Filipino people in the dark,” Marcos said, referring to the pact that allows the US and the Philippines to come to each other’s aid in case of armed attack.

“This is not just an issue of foreign policy but of Philippine sovereignty, even environmental safety. The government better have a clear explanation for this,” added the senator, who chairs the Senate foreign relations committee. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab