By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — The Department of National Defense (DND) has affirmed that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will continue to support President Ferdinand Marcos “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., despite calls to withdraw support from the Chief Executive.

As the President, Marcos also serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the AFP.

“The AFP remains steadfast in upholding the Constitution under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.,” stated Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro in a declaration on Tuesday (April 16, 2024).

Teodoro emphasized, “Efforts to sway them from this duty or to coerce them into supporting a partisan agenda are futile, especially when such agenda aligns with foreign interests conflicting with our national interests.”

He added that demands for the AFP to “withdraw support” would only lead to potential criminal investigations.

Earlier, Davao del Norte First District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez had urged the AFP to revoke their support for Marcos.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Clearing out that it was not a provocative action, the Department of National Defense (DND) on Sunday (07 April 2024) underscored that the joint maritime activity between the Philippines, Australia, Japan, and the United States in the West Philippine Sea was just a “show of unity” among the four democratic countries.

It stressed that it was not a show of force against China, which also conducted military “combat patrols” on the same day, Sunday (7 April 2024) in the disputed South China Sea.

“We’re just practicing what is allowed under international law. As I said, it’s a show of unity. If they (China) consider it as a show of force, that is up to them,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said.

Citing what they call historical facts, China claims territorial sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea and has been increasingly assertive in the region in recent years.

On Saturday (6 April 2024), the China Coast Guard (CCG) said it had “handled” a situation last April 4 at a disputed reef where several ships from the Philippines were engaged in “illegal” operations.

But the Philippines has remained calm.

“What we’re doing is something that’s practiced by all civilized nations in the world… and what is important is that we are doing this in the name of our national interest in the Philippines. As I mentioned, what we’re getting out of this is the enhancement of our capability and our interoperability with our partners,” Andolong further said.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Saying that it’s not China’s business to meddle in the internal affairs of the Philippines, the Department of National Defense (DND) on Sunday (11 Feb 2024) rebuked Beijing after it warned against a plan to increase the county’s military presence in Batanes, the country’s northernmost province.

The DND issued the statement after China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin warned the Philippines that it should “tread carefully and don’t play with fire” by putting troops near Taiwan.

“The Defense Department stresses that Batanes is Philippine territory and China has no business warning the Philippines about what it does within its own territory,” the DND said.

It added that plans to put up more structures in Batanes are part of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept to address gaps in the country’s defenses.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has called for the development of more sites in Batanes after inspecting Naval Detachment Basco, Naval Detachment Mavulis, Itbayat Airport, and the Multi-Agency Facility in Mahatao.

But Wang said that Beijing sees the buildup in Batanes as related to Taiwan, and warned “the Taiwan question is at the heart of China’s core interests and is a red line and bottom line that must not be crossed.”

Undaunted, the DND said that China “should refrain from engaging in provocative rhetoric and activities,” claiming these affect its credibility.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Without naming former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have issued warnings against moves that threaten the “territorial integrity” of the Philippines.

The DND and DOJ issued the warnings after Duterte revived the campaign for “a separate and independent Mindanao” kicked off, which Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez said he is gathering signatures for.

“The mandate of the Department of National Defense is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of our national territory as enshrined in the Constitution,” Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. said. “We will strictly enforce this mandate whether externally or internally.”

In a separate statement, the DOJ said it is “vehemently opposed” to calls for secession “of Mindanao or other parts of the country.”

It pointed out that secession is contrary to the principles of a democratic society as stated in the Constitution and called on Filipinos “to reject secessionist ideologies.”

Philippine National Police (PNP)chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the police forces are already looking into the matter.

“‘Yun ang tinitignan natin those who are talking about such interest of separating yun ang mino-monitor natin,” Acorda Jr. said.

The PNP chief, however, expressed confidence that the national police will oppose moves to separate Mindanao from the Republic of the Philippines.

“These are all defined through our Constitution, yung territory natin, sovereignty natin. It’s not good na after all the sacrifices of our heroes and other kababayans and now that we are enjoying peace (that this comes up),” Acorda Jr. quipped.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Cognizant of the various security challenges, including the South China (West Philippine Sea) issue, the Philippines and Sweden have expressed willingness to develop long-term bilateral cooperation.

On Thursday, the Department of National Defense (DND) disclosed that on January 26 Undersecretary Irineo Espino met with Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Jan Knutsson at the Department of National Defense (DND).

“Both sides looked forward to developing a long-term bilateral cooperation, underscoring the importance of upholding the rules-based international order and strengthening security ties between like-minded countries,” the DND said in a statement.

Espino and Knutsson also tackled climate change, the Ukraine war, cross-strait tensions, and the South China Sea issue.

It was learned during the meeting that Knutsson also presented Sweden’s cost-effective material, primarily its aircraft, as he showcased the country’s strong defense industry to counter threats.

For his part, Espino expressed DND’s interest in cooperating with Sweden in terms of technology transfer and research and development, among others, to protect the Philippines’ sovereignty.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

IN THE FACE OF IMMINENT EXTERNAL THREATS, a ranking Department of National Defense (DND) official has disclosed that the agency will be purchasing two (2) modern submarines from South Korea.

The move was part of the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“The plan is now in the pipeline and is geared towards the acquisition of two modern submarines,” Defense Undersecretary Irineo Espino said on Friday, November 17.

He bared that one of the manufacturers was Hanwha Ocean, which is among the leading shipbuilders in South Korea where he was earlier briefed on the capabilities of the Jang Bogo-class submarine.

Espino was designated as DND Officer-In-Charge (OIC) by Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. from Nov. 14 to 17 while he was in Jakarta, Indonesia for an official foreign mission.

The DND has included the acquisition of two submarines in its “wish list” submitted to President Marcos Jr. as part of the third phase of the AFP modernization program.

According to Espino, the South Korean submarine — currently operated by the South Korean Navy — was proposed for the submarine acquisition program of the Philippine Navy.

Last month, Espino was also briefed on the progress of the construction of two missile corvettes during his visit to the headquarters of Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).

A corvette is a type of naval warship capable of anti-ship, anti-submarine, and anti-air warfare missions.

To recall, the DND signed a P28-billion contract with HHI in 2021 for the acquisition of two brand-new missile corvettes for the Philippine Navy.

“With the changing global security environment, the Philippines must be equipped with modern defense assets,” Espino said.

It was gathered that the first corvette is expected to be delivered in 2025, and the other one in 2026.

Espino expressed confidence that the AFP would be able to acquire more modern weapon systems under the Marcos Jr. administration.

(ai/mnm)