AFP chief: PBBM wants ‘innovative approach’ to security concerns

FILE: AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. trusts his military commanders and prefers that they be innovative in their approaches to the country’s security concerns.

Armed Forces for the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. made this response when asked whether the Chief Executive gave specific guidelines on how to go about with the “paradigm shift” he earlier called for in handling the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue.

“Kailangan po natin magkaroon ng ‘paradigm shift’ pero hindi na po naging specific ang ating Pangulo because he also mentioned that he doesn’t want to micromanage at kami na lang po sa AFP and our commanders on the ground will have to be very innovative, imaginative in our approaches (A ‘paradigm shift’ is needed but the President did not give specifics because he also mentioned that he does not want to micromanage and we in the AFP and our ground commanders will have to be very innovative, and imaginative in our approaches),” he said during the press conference shortly after the AFP Command Conference on Monday afternoon.

The President earlier said he is seeking a “paradigm shift” in addressing China’s recent aggression and harassment in the WPS.

He made this call after noting that “very little progress” has been made using the “traditional methods of diplomacy” in addressing the issue between the Philippines and China.

Marcos, who was present during the conference, directed the AFP to “reconfigure” its approach to handling security threats posed by the remaining insurgents, local terrorist groups, the WPS issue, and natural disasters.

Brawner said the President’s call seeks to ensure that the AFP becomes more effective in addressing these threats.

“He (Marcos) did not say that there is something wrong with the current organization we have, what he meant was that we have to reconfigure to be more effective in addressing the threats,” Brawner stressed.