No red alert for AFP

MANILA, Philippines - Security officials yesterday dismissed as a hoax reports that the US is leading other allied nations to enforce the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling in the South China Sea against China.

Text messages have been circulating since Wednesday, claiming heavy presence of US fighter jets and other foreign military aircraft at Clark Field in Pampanga.

“We would like to inform the general public that there is no truth to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) being on red alert and military activity at Clark in relation to China’s possible reaction to the recent ruling of the PCA. Said text is a hoax,” Defense Undersecretary for Defense Policy Ricardo David said.

There were also unconfirmed reports that a multinational force is now heading toward the South China Sea in response to the PCA verdict – which China described as “illegal” and therefore has no binding force.

“Negative. It’s not true. There’s disinformation going on,” said AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla.

Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP Public Affairs Office chief, said the military alert remains normal, except in areas where there’s an ongoing military operation against the Abu Sayyaf.