đź“· AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Thursday, July 4, to deescalate tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea.
According to AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., Marcos asked the military forces to manage the situation in the West Philippine Sea with a level-headed approach.
“The guidance also of our President to our troops is not to escalate the situation on the ground or on the seas, so to speak,” Brawner said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Marcos – Brawner also mentioned – acknowledged the challenging circumstances that the AFP personnel faced as the country navigates the complex geopolitical landscape.
“Sabi nya mahirap talaga yung ginagawa ninyo dahil habang dinedepensahan niyo yung ating bansa you are also practicing restraint, pinipigilan nila yung sarili nila ano kahit na gustong gusto na nilang lumaban ng todo ay hindi nila kayang gawin,” Brawner said.
“Noong sinabi kong lalaban tayo, ang ibig sabihin ko po doon, hindi natin hahayaan na basta na lang i-bully tayo ng ganun katulad ng nakaraan nga. Of course, may mga dalang armas nga yung ating mga katunggali. But in the next RoRe, basta hindi po tayo papayag na basta na lang apihin,” Brawner added.
A Philippine Navy sailor lost his thumb and several others were hurt on June 17 following repeated rams of Philippine rubber boats to block them from bringing food supplies, weapons, and other needs to BRP Sierra Madre.
Following the event, Philippine and Chinese officials convened in Manila in bilateral negotiations intended to defuse and control conflicts in the WPS.
Brawner stated even with these initiatives, Filipino troops will protect themselves should Chinese officials engage in the same behavior on the next mission of the Philippines in Ayungin.
“We will make sure they will be able to defend themselves,” Brawner said. (TCSP)
