By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Francis Tolentino called on reservists to actively defend and safeguard the Philippines’ sovereignty amidst ongoing political tensions and challenges in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Tolentino underscored the importance of maintaining a strong and prepared reserve force, emphasizing that its role becomes increasingly “strategic” as the country’s position in the Indo-Pacific grows more critical in today’s “complex security environment.”
He also commended the reservists not only as nation-builders in their respective professions but also as defenders and humanitarian responders.
“The reserve force is a symbol, a testament to every Filipino, and it protects and upholds our sovereignty,” Tolentino said during the 45th Reservist Week celebration at Camp Aguinaldo.
The senator highlighted the need for the reserve force to remain vigilant against various security threats, both conventional and non-conventional, such as cyberattacks, terrorism, and human trafficking.
He also acknowledged the importance of skilled reservists in fields like technology, law, medicine, and engineering in enhancing the modern defense capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
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