Protection Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on the acceptance, turn-over, and blessing ceremony of the C-208B plane at Clark Air Base, September 19, 2023 | PHOTO: INQUIRER.internet / Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines — Protection Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. urged Filipinos to be vigilant towards what he deemed as trendy threats towards the nation’s sovereignty.
“Allow us to stay vigilant and able to do our half in guarding and defending the liberty and independence of our Motherland,” Teodoro mentioned in a press release in Filipino on Tuesday on the event of the Philippines’ 126th Independence Day.
Commemorated each June 12, Independence Day commemorates the declaration of Philippine independence from Spain in 1898.
“In the course of new threats to our freedom and sovereignty, and the brand new challenges of recent occasions, the Division of Nationwide Protection will stay steadfast,” he added.
Teodoro additionally warned towards fostering division amongst Filipinos to undermine the nation’s freedom.
“Now greater than ever, let’s strengthen the unity of our folks to dismiss and refute the lies and misinformation unfold by those that search to suppress and divide us,” Teodoro mentioned.
West Philippine Sea
Teodoro didn’t point out a selected nation, however the protection chief just lately unleashed a salvo of assaults towards China, particularly over its declare of a brand new mannequin settlement with army officers in dealing with the state of affairs in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal within the West Philippine Sea.
READ: China embassy’s ‘barking’ violates wiretapping legislation if claims true — Teodoro
Commodore Jay Tarriela, who’s the Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, likened the army and coast guard personnel to the nationwide heroes “who made nice sacrifices for us to benefit from the freedom and independence we now have immediately.”
“Allow us to additionally specific our deepest gratitude to the courageous women and men of the @TeamAFP and the @coastguardph who tirelessly defend our territorial integrity, guaranteeing that they may maintain the road for the following generations of Filipinos to proceed our battle for the West Philippine Sea!” Tarriela mentioned in a publish on X (previously Twitter) on Wednesday.
Tarriela added: “We stand agency and resolute in our dedication to safeguard our sovereignty. We is not going to yield!”
American ‘intervention’ slammed
A militant fisher’s group stormed america’ Embassy on Wednesday as a part of the Independence Day’s commemoration.
Members of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) staged a protest in entrance of the American embassy to denounce what they branded as continued army intervention, which, they mentioned, additional escalates the tensions within the West Philippine Sea.
READ: 2025 Balikatan battle video games will simulate ‘full scale’ battle—Teodoro
“Opposite to the narrative that the U.S. army presence is a deterrent to China’s aggressive occupation in our territorial waters, the bottom actuality exhibits in any other case,” mentioned Pamalakaya vice chairperson Ronnel Arambulo in a press release.
Beijing asserts sovereignty in virtually your complete South China Sea, together with many of the West Philippine Sea, even when such a declare has been successfully invalidated by a July 2016 worldwide tribunal ruling that stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013. Beijing continues to reject this landmark ruling.
Arambulo blamed the brand new Enhanced Protection Cooperation Settlement and the intensifying battle video games between Manila and Washington as the rationale for the escalations.
“Chinese language coast guard personnel have change into extra audaciously hostile in the direction of Filipino troops stationed and doing resupply missions in our territory,” Arambulo mentioned.
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“This goes to point out that the U.S. army presence is way from being a deterrent, however extra of an escalation to the stress,” he added.
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