AFP prefers DFA, DND to comment on WPS development

FILE: AFP through Arevalo echoed the DFA’s sentiment (Photo: Joy Gumatay via PTV/Facebook)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chose to not comment on the developments in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the South China Sea but assured that they are fulfilling their constitutional obligations.

According to AFP Spokesperson Colonel Edgard Arevalo, commenting on the issue would preferably fall on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) or the Department of National Defense (DND).

DFA already issued their statement on May 21, Monday, after Chinese air forces said that “A division of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) recently organized multiple bombers such as the H-6K to conduct take-off and landing training on islands and reefs in the South China Sea in order to improve our ability to ‘reach all territory, conduct strikes at any time and strike in all directions.”

The agency reiterated its commitment to protecting the territories that the Philippines has sovereign rights over but refused to give details.

“While appropriate language, whether expressions of condemnation or concern, over certain developments are clearly conveyed through diplomatic channels, it is not our policy to publicize every action taken by the Philippine Government whenever there are reported developments taking place in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea,” it said in its statement.

(Read: PH closely monitors WPS, South China Sea developments)

AFP through Arevalo echoed the DFA’s sentiment in an interview with reporters, confirming that they have conducted air and naval patrols.

“There are other things that we are doing but we are not at liberty to reveal to you but these are part and parcel of what we are doing towards a fulfillment of such constitutional [obligation],” he said.

He then added, “There are matters of national security that we cannot reveal to you because they necessarily have to be kept in confidence, otherwise we might be violating operational security.”

However, Arevalo assured that the AFP is still sticking to its mandate.

“We can assure our people that your armed forces will never renege in its constitutional obligation to help secure and defend the territorial integrity of our nation,” he said.