Marcos to AFP: Maximize, reassess troop deployment

MANILA, Philippines — With the military shifting its focus to external threats, President Marcos has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to review its troop deployments to make them more “responsive to the current and future geopolitical realities.”

Marcos gave the directive to the AFP and the Department of National Defense (DND) yesterday in his message at the 67th founding anniversary of the Naval Special Operations Command (NAVSOCOM) at the Naval Base Heracleo Alano in Sangley Point, Cavite.

“As we move now from focusing on ensuring internal security for the country, we now have to bolster the country’s external defenses. And I exhort the DND and the AFP to maximize and strategically review the deployment of our forces to ensure that their strategies remain responsive to the current and future geopolitical realities,” the President said.

The NAVSOCOM, with its expertise in sea, air and land or SEAL operations, must be utilized to support naval defense and enhance maritime security, Marcos said.

The President’s order came in the light of China’s growing aggressiveness in the West Philippine Sea.

On Oct. 22, Unaizah May 2, an AFP-contracted supply boat, and Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra were “harassed” and “intentionally hit” by Chinese coast guard and militia vessels while en route to Ayungin Shoal to unload provisions for troops stationed on the beached BRP Sierra Madre. The incident was just one of the cases of provocative and dangerous actions of the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea against Filipino vessels.

Marcos cited the crucial role of the Navy’s elite unit in fighting terrorist groups and other lawless elements as well as in curbing smuggling and other illegal activities.

He also lauded the NAVSOCOM for supporting the AFP’s internal security efforts, particularly in southern Philippines.

“Let us also continue harnessing the skills of our specialized units in preparing for all contingencies,” Marcos, AFP’s commander-in-chief, said.

He urged the Navy to continue honing the skills of its officers and personnel and to sustain collaboration with its counterparts from like-minded nations.

“I also enjoin the Navy to strengthen the unit’s capabilities by partnering with forces from like-minded states to uphold our shared commitment to freedom of navigation, peace and stability and the rule of law,” the President said.

Marcos said his administration would continue to acquire state-of-the-art equipment and upgrade training under the revised AFP Modernization Program to strengthen the AFP’s capabilities.

“We will likewise support you in implementing programs to enhance your knowledge and skill as well as ensure your welfare and, equally important, your family’s well-being,” he added.

“Together, let us bring stability, peace and prosperity in our lands and in our seas, all the while standing as a wellspring of hope to our present and our next generations,” Marcos said.

Prior to his speech, Marcos witnessed the capability demonstration of Navy frogmen in adverse conditions.

NAVSOCOM, established in 1956, was patterned after the US Navy’s Underwater Demolition Team or UDT.

Joint training

At Camp Aguinaldo, AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. officially opened yesterday Dagat-Langit-Lupa (AJEX DAGITPA) joint exercise among the major services of the AFP.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Philippine National Police (PNP) have also been invited to join the exercises.

“In this exercise, we will fortify our territorial defense posture, sharpen our external security capabilities and respond to emerging threats with unparalleled precision,” he said in a speech during the opening rites.

“In this ever-changing world, the importance of joint operating concepts cannot be overstated. Together we will harness the power of seamless collaboration across services, leaving no room for weakness or division,” he pointed out.

“We will demonstrate to the world that we are a force to be reckoned with, a force that operates as united front, unyielding in our pursuit of excellence,” Brawner said.

The AFP chief said this year’s AJEX DAGITPA will involve more than 1,500 active and reserve forces from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Special Operations Command and Cyber Group in staff, command post, cyber defense and field training events in the Northern Luzon Command area, until Nov. 17.

“My esteemed colleagues, let me impress upon you the gravity of this undertaking. We are not mere participants in a routine exercise, we are the leaders and the defenders of our nation,” Brawner said in his speech.

“I always tell our Armed Forces… and the other uniformed services that at this point, we have to take this very seriously because we can face a formidable competitor or adversary anytime in the future… but it is important that we prepare today,” he stressed.

“And we have invited also the PCG and the PNP because in the event of a national emergency, be it man-made or natural, the coast guard and the PNP will be under the command of the chief of staff of the AFP. This is to ensure unity of command among the major uniformed personnel services,” he said.

Asked by reporters which adversary the military has to prepare for, Brawner “it can be anybody else, when we talk about adversaries, we are not referring to a specific country. And as I mentioned, not only man-made, even natural calamities, disasters, we have to prepare for all of these.”

Trilateral exercise

PCG spokesman Rear Adm. Armand Balilo, for his part, said the PCG is eyeing joint maritime exercise next year with the coast guards of Japan and the US.

The holding of a trilateral maritime exercise was discussed during the visit of Japan coast guard commandant Adm. Shohei Ishii to the PCG headquarters on Saturday.

“We have not yet set the date for the trilateral maritime exercise, but it was one of the topics taken up during the visit of the JCG Commandant. We still have to finalize the details but if there would be a trilateral maritime exercise, it might take place sometime next year,” Balilo said.

He also clarified that the planned joint maritime exercise was not in response to China’s growing aggressiveness in the West Philippine Sea, but rather to enhance the interoperability and training capability of the coast guards of the three nations.

“It is not in relation to the WPS. We are like-minded coast guard agencies with similar coast guard functions such as to promote safety of life at sea, to conduct search and rescue (SAR) operations, marine environment and perform maritime security,” the PCG official added.

Last June, the PCG, JCG and USCG held in Mariveles, Bataan their first-ever trilateral maritime exercise.

In a related development, Balilo said the PCG is also eyeing the acquisition of five more 97-meter multi-role response vessels – similar to its existing BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Melchora Aquino – to boost its operations capabilities like in patrols, search and rescue and disaster response.

He also bared an initiative to secure at least seven helicopters from India, mainly for disaster response.

“But these are still under discussion and subject to the National Economic and Development Authority’s approval,” Balilo said.

He said the PCG is set to acquire for P1.6 billion two 19-seater planes for “maritime domain awareness” patrols and SAR missions.

The PCG currently only has two airplanes, an Islander and a Cessna.

Meanwhile, militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) has expressed its opposition to the coming US-led multilateral war games Kamandag 7 on Nov. 9.

In a statement released yesterday, the group said its stand against the war games “is rooted in principles of national sovereignty and solidarity with the Palestinian people.”

“As a matter of national sovereignty and as a matter of solidarity with the Palestinian people, we have a duty to expose and oppose the US war machine, wherever it rears its ugly head,” Bayan president Renato Reyes said. — Evelyn Macairan, Mark Ernest Villeza