By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Emboldened by the outpouring of international support, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday bravely stood firm that it would not be deterred in performing its mandate to protect the country’s sovereign rights as China is set to enforce its threat to arrest “trespassers” in what it believed to be its territory by virtue of the nine-dash line which runs counter to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).

AFP Public Affairs Office (PAO) chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad maintained that Beijing’s anti-trespassing policy, which will take effect on Saturday, June 15, undermines the rule of law and international norms that govern maritime conduct.

“The presence and actions of its vessels in our waters are illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive. We will not be deterred or intimidated,” the AFP PAO chief replied when texted by a television network.

Under the controversial regulation, foreigners accused of illegally entering “Chinese waters” can be detained for up to 60 days without trial starting on Saturday (15 June 2024).

Despite the threat, the AFP said it will continue conducting maritime patrols in areas within the Philippines’ jurisdiction.

“We are not the only one concerned. Even other countries are concerned about that. This is not only the problem of the Philippines, but the problem of ASEAN and the international community,” Trinidad noted.

(el Amigo/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Heeding the earlier suggestion of leading opposition figure and former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday revealed plans to construct a permanent structure at Ayungin Shoal will involve an inter-agency program since it will not be a military structure.

This came on the heels of Senator Sonny Angara’s confirmation that lawmakers have allocated funds in the 2024 national budget for the building of a structure at the shoal, which is part of the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan.

“Siguro po pagpa-planuhan pa ‘yan — it should be an inter-agency program kasi ang name-mention na structure is some sort of a para siyang shelter para sa mga fisherfolks, and therefore it will involve different agencies,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said.

To recall, Carpio has said that the Philippines should build a civilian structure such as a lighthouse or marine research center on Ayungin Shoal, where BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded.

The BRP Sierra Madre, a Second World War era ship, was deliberately run aground on Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 during the administration of President Joseph “Erap” Estrada to serve as an outpost of the Philippine Marine Corps to assert Philippine sovereignty in the country’s dispute with China over the ownership of the Spratly Islands.

Carpio has reasoned out that a civilian structure could be used to protect the marine environment amid reports of rampant coral harvesting by Chinese vessels and increased aggression by China in the area.

The Philippines has been sending civilian ships to resupply troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre to avoid militarizing the West Philippine Sea issue.

The AFP repudiated China’s claim of “indisputable sovereignty” over the Ayungin Shoal, a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands that is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan.

China has been claiming sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which overlaps with the waters of Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

(IAmigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Despite the announcement of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to grant amnesty to rebel groups, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has blatantly defied its Commander-in-Chief by saying that there will be no ceasefire and the fight against insurgency continues.

Some political pundits told Maharlika NuMedia that this controversial amnesty proclamation could be used by the “hawks” in the military establishment as a pretext to launch a coup d’etat against Marcos Jr. and hand over the presidency to “rabid anti-communist” Vice President Sara Duterte.

“While we are offering this opportunity for them to return the fold of the law, we will continue to exert pressure. We will continue to conduct security patrols. Kasi iyong encounter po, nangyayari naman ito dahil sila ay na andiyan at lumalaban,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar declared at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City on Saturday, November 25.

He said the AFP will continue to conduct security protocols to ensure the safety of communities, especially in areas still under the influence of what the AFP tags as terrorist groups.

For his part, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on Friday, November 24, lauded Marcos’ issuance of Executive Order (EO) No. 47 (s. 2023), which amended EO No. 125 (s. 2021) or the Creation of the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), together with Proclamation Nos. 403, 404, 405, and 406.

“The granting of amnesty offers an invaluable opportunity for our brothers and sisters to transform their lives, avail [of] government services, and rejoin their families and communities,” Teodoro noted.

He added that the DND is hoping for the support of all Filipinos for PBBM’s “historic move” to find a long-lasting solution to the internal conflicts.

Earlier, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), headed by lawyer and former journalist Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, said the amnesty is granted to organizations that committed crimes whether punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special penal laws, including but not limited to rebellion or insurrection; conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion or insurrection; disloyalty of public officers or employees; inciting to rebellion or insurrection; sedition; conspiracy to commit sedition; and inciting to sedition.

According to the PCO, the amnesty was granted “to encourage them (rebels) to return to the folds of law.”

Still, the problem lies in the mindset of some military officials who only see the “military solution” as the means to end armed insurgency, said some political observers who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal.

“Millions of pesos of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) will be gone if there’s no more insurgency,” they said.

They noted that VP Duterte has justified the use of CIF for her “anti-communist” drive but drew public uproar when the Office of the Vice President (OVP) spent P125 million in just 11 days in 2022.

(ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

NO LESS THAN ARMED FORCES CHIEF Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. has confirmed an earlier expose’ that there would be a coup d’etat against the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Earlier, vlogcaster Armand Dean Nocum I made a video claiming that a columnist close to the military reportedly overheard “undercurrent discussions” among the military ranks, saying “tanggalin na si Marcos” and install Vice President Sara Duterte.

Brawner claimed that he asked the group of retired military officers trying to convince military troops to overthrow the PBBM administration not to involve the active men and women in the AFP.

“I said to them, ‘Sir, you have the right to do that because we are in a democracy but please do not involve the active personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’,” he disclosed.

Brawner virtually confirmed Nocum’s earlier warning of a coup plot during the change of command ceremony at the Western Mindanao Command between outgoing Westmincom chief Maj. Gen. Steve Crespillo and incoming head Lt. Gen. William Gonzales on Friday, November 3.

“Once we find out that any of our active personnel are involved in this, we will act swiftly,” the AFP chief warned.

But on Saturday, November 4, AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said in a statement that Brawner was “misquoted” when “he merely mentioned the reported efforts by certain individuals to upset the peace and stability that the country is enjoying right now” under President Marcos Jr.

“Therefrom, General Brawner again reminded all AFP personnel to remain professional and loyal to their oath to protect the people and the State,” Aguilar said.

(ai/mnm)