AFP says ready to carry out Marcos’ ‘direction’ on WPS, defend sailors

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it is ready to carry out President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “direction” in protecting the country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla reaffirmed the president’s assurance of not yielding to harassment by foreign countries during his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday.

“Well, foremost, the president has set the direction. Your Armed Forces of the Philippines stands ready to carry out this direction from the president with courage, with honor, and unwavering commitment to the Constitution and to every Filipino,” she said during a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.

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Marcos mentioned in his annual address that a collective threat is targeting Filipinos, and that the country will not back down from such attacks.

Earlier in July, a Chinese newspaper posted a video on July 16 showing a monkey wearing a barong and a traditional Filipino hat.

Padilla said the AFP “is not about looking for trouble; this is about being prepared.”

“You can challenge our ships, you can question our presence, but you cannot rewrite the truth. Our sailors were carrying out a lawful mission for the Filipino people, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will always stand with those who stand watch for our nation,” she added.

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Padilla also shared that the AFP conducted a five-day multilateral maritime cooperative activity with the United States Pacific Command and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in the WPS.

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She said the activity aims to further coordination among participating forces to ensure regional peace and uphold international law in the Indo-Pacific region.

“This activity strengthened coordination and interoperability among the participating forces in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” she said. /mcm

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