By Delon Porcalla
The Philippine Star
The Philippine Star
Members of the Philippine Navy recite their pledge during their 115th anniversary celebration in Cavite’s Fort San Felipe yesterday.(INSET)President Aquino chats with Vice President Jejomar Binay at the Philippine Navy ceremonies yesterday. (WILLY PEREZ)
MANILA, Philippines – With tensions escalating over maritime claims, President Aquino yesterday vowed that the country would repel any threat to its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“In the agenda of our good governance, our message to the world is clear: what is ours is ours, and we will repel any and all attempts to claim what is ours, and defend ourselves against any form of aggression, especially within our backyard,” Aquino said at the 115th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Navy at Fort San Felipe in Cavite.
He challenged the Navy to rise to the challenges of the times not only in fulfilling its mandate as guardian of the seas, but also as protector of the sovereignty of the Philippines.
“The challenge to protect our sovereignty and integrity as a nation has been continuing. There remain the internal and external threats, and the risks brought by calamities that endanger the lives and livelihood of our countrymen,” the President said.
Aquino said he expected the Navy to defend the country’s territory and uphold its sovereignty against all enemies, whether foreign or domestic.
“We want the Filipino to feel secure and safe, wherever he may be in any part of the world. That is why we expect security forces to curb illegal smuggling transactions, illegal drugs and trafficking-in-persons,” Aquino said.
He expressed confidence that the Navy can better perform its duties with the signing of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Act, which extends the program for another 15 years.
Awarding ceremony
The President led the awarding ceremony for those who contributed to the Navy’s mission accomplishments during yesterday’s anniversary celebration.
Among the recipients were US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. and Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras.
The event had for its theme “Navy: An Adventure of Honorable Service to our Maritime Nation.”
The President was accorded military honors upon his arrival at the Commodore Posadas Wharf Headquarters in Fort San Felipe in Cavite.
It was the first time that the Navy’s anniversary celebration was held in Fort San Felipe.
The event was highlighted by the inauguration of a museum, which was built to showcase the Navy’s rich history and culture.
Among those who attended the ceremony were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, Navy flag officer in command Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano, Army Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes, Air Force Commanding General Lauro Catalino de la Cruz, Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima, and Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena.
Also in attendance were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino, and members of the diplomatic corps.
The Navy has conducted a series of pre-anniversary activities for this year’s founding anniversary, among them a football competition among the youth of Mindanao and advocacy biking for safe and fair elections.
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RELATED STORY:
AFP adopts ‘do-nothing’ strategy in Ayungin Reef
By Jaime Laude
The Philippine Star
The Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is once again adopting a “do-nothing strategy” in Ayungin Reef, a part of the country’s regime of islands in the hotly-contested Spratlys region being claimed by five other countries including China whose ships have reportedly taken up position in the area.
Instead of confronting the Chinese warships, the AFP’s Western Command (Wescom) has limited itself to just monitoring the activities of the Chinese warships and surveillance vessels within Ayungin Reef.
“Our task at the moment is to support the peaceful resolution of our conflict in Kalayaan Island Groups, so the AFP supports the diplomatic actions or protest by our government,” said Maj. Ramon Zagala ofthe AFP’s public affairs office.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has filed a diplomatic protest against China over the presence of their warships inside Ayungin Reef, a vital supply route from mainland Palawan to the Kalayaan town on Pag-Asa Island.
Ayungin is located near the Chinese occupied Mischief (Panganiban) Reef that now serves as China’s forward base for its warships. Both reefs are located near mainland Palawan.
While the military has sustained its air and maritime territorial patrols over the region, it has adopted a “do-nothing strategy” in order to avoid direct confrontation with foreign military intruders inside the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
A senior security official said the strategy has worked for decades among the Spratlys-claimant until China started its aggressive behavior.
Marine Col. Edgard Arevalo, Navy spokesman for West Philippine Sea, meanwhile stressed that there’s no mustering of Chinese warships in Ayungin saying the defense and military leadership are abreast of the current situation in the area.
Reports obtained from other sources, however, claimed that aside from three Chinese frigates and two surveillance ships, Chinese fishing boats are now gathered near the reef.
“We have not monitored a number of vessels to be construed as mustering (in the area),” Arevalo said, while stressing that the Navy’s defense and security mandate to defend the country’s territorial domain are well-settled under the Philippine Constitution.
In the case of Ayungin, he said the Navy has boots on the ground guarding the reef. He said the troops on forward deployment in the area continue to monitor the developments around the reef.
“The same is true with other Navy-occupied territories in the West Philippine Sea,” Arevalo said, while pointing out that the Navy’s actions in the area are all based from inter-agency and multi-lateral consultations between and amongst agencies of government.
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