PCG completes resupply mission in Kalayaan Islands

Posted to the Palawan News (Jan 12, 2024: PCG completes resupply mission in Kalayaan Islands (By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz)

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has completed a week-long rotation and resupply (RORE) mission in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) despite being shadowed by China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels.

In a statement on Wednesday, the PCG said multi-role response vessels BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan conducted the RORE mission from Jan. 3 until Tuesday when they arrived at the Port of Buliluyan in Bataraza, Palawan.

During the mission, it said the vessels and their crew delivered essential supplies to PCG personnel deployed at the Kalayaan Island Group –specifically at Lawak Island, Panata Island, and Pag-asa Island.

Members of the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group also took part in the mission.

Coast Guard District Palawan (CGDPAL) Commander, Capt. Dennis Labay, lauded the PCG personnel stationed in these islands for actively serving at far-flung units in the WPS, especially during the holiday season.

“While we fully understand that it is part of their job, we also want to lift their morale by allowing them to see their families after performing their duties for the nation. Then, they will prepare and be ready to be deployed again,” Labay said.

PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said these islands will undergo improvements this year and earmarked PCG fiscal year 2024 additional budget for infrastructure development to boost response and monitoring capabilities in the WPS.

In a message to reporters, PCG spokesperson, Commodore Armando Balilo, said the mission went smoothly with no confrontations with any Chinese vessels.

However, Balilo said a CCG vessel was spotted to have monitored and shadowed the PCG vessels during the mission. (PNA)

https://palawan-news.com/pcg-completes-resupply-mission-in-kalayaan-islands/

SBMA: US oil tanker not cleared to enter Subic Bay

From CNN Philippines (Jan 12, 2024): SBMA: US oil tanker not cleared to enter Subic Bay (By CNN Philippines Staff)

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 12) – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Friday clarified that an oil tanker carrying fuel from the US did not enter the freeport as it did not receive diplomatic clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The US Embassy confirmed that Washington had entered a contract with Filipino companies to transfer the fuel from Red Hill Underground Storage Facility in Honolulu, Hawaii to the Philippine Coastal Storage and Pipeline Corporation.

The embassy said all arrangements for the transfer and storage of the fuel were made through proper channels, using established logistics contracts with Philippine commercial entities.

Parsh Marine, the Yosemite Trader’s agent, then applied for entry clearance on Jan. 2 but subsequently canceled this due to the absence of DFA clearance as of Jan. 9, the date of its scheduled arrival. Based on Marine Traffic data gathered on Thursday, the tanker appears to be in waters west of Pangasinan, still within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.



The SBMA clarified that the Yosemite Trader only made it to the vicinity waters of Subic Bay but never actually entered the freeport. It has not unloaded its cargo of five million gallons of F-76 military ship fuel either.

Senator Imee Marcos earlier claimed the ship was carrying 39 million gallons of fuel. She slammed the "inexplicable silence" of the US and Philippine governments regarding the deal, saying it raised suspicions about the pre-positioning of military supplies in the country amid predictions of an eventual war between China and the US over Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the arrival of the tanker has also drawn flak from progressive groups who pointed out that the transfer was to a storage facility in Subic Bay, which is not one of the nine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites in the Philippines where the United States can station troops and equipment on a rotational basis.

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2024/1/12/sbma-us-oil-tanker-not-cleared-to-enter-subic-bay.html

Phl-US maritime cooperation activity not targeting any third party – DFA

Posted to the Daily Tribune (Jan 12, 2024): Phl-US maritime cooperation activity not targeting any third party – DFA (By Jom Garner)

Philippine and US navies wrap up their joint maritime exercises in the West Philippine Sea amid China’s shadowing.

The Maritime Cooperation Activity between the Philippines and the United States in the West Philippine Sea does not intend to target any other foreign countries, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.

“Exercises like the MCA are aimed at enhancing our maritime capabilities and interoperability with the United States, our defense treaty ally, with the view to ensuring security and stability in the region. It does not target any third country,” DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza told reporters in a text message.

Daza noted that the MCA is a routine activity approved by the Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board under the Philippines’ Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States.

“It was conducted within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and was consistent with international law,” she stressed, referring to the two-day joint patrol in the WPS last week.

Daza said the Philippines’ maritime cooperation with the US became an avenue for the country to showcase its defense capabilities.

“It also demonstrates the significant improvement in the Philippines’ defense capabilities and the development of a world-class navy and armed forces capable of carrying out its mandate to defend the territorial integrity of the Philippines and our maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea,” she said.

Daza issued the remarks when asked for a comment regarding China’s reaction to the Philippines and the US’ MCA in the West Philippine Sea which it described as “muscle-flexing.”

China Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin has warned that the “provocative military activities” of the Philippines and the US in the South China Sea could put the stability in the region at risk.

“We would like to stress that the US and the Philippines’ muscle-flexing, provocative military activities in the South China Sea are not conducive to managing the situation on the sea and handling maritime disputes,” said Wang.

“We urge relevant countries to stop the irresponsible moves, and respect regional countries’ effort to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea,” he added.

https://tribune.net.ph/2024/01/phl-us-maritime-cooperation-activity-not-targeting-any-third-party-dfa/

Non-regional states have no right to interfere in PH, China maritime disputes: minister

From ABS-CBN (Jan 12, 2024): Non-regional states have no right to interfere in PH, China maritime disputes: minister (Reuters)

Non-regional states have no right to interfere in PH, China maritime disputes: minister

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Thursday reiterated China's clear and consistent position on the South China Sea issue, emphasizing dialogue and consultation for dispute resolution while prioritizing the safeguarding of peace, stability, territorial sovereignty, and maritime rights and interests.

Mao made the statement in response to reports of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressing concern about the situation in the South China Sea and the European country's commitment to a rules-based international order, specifically highlighting Chinese actions and the recent clashes between Chinese and Filipino vessels in the region.

"China's position on the South China Sea issue is clear and consistent. We are committed to properly handling disputes through dialogue and consultation with countries concerned and would like to work with ASEAN countries to safeguard peace and stability in the region. That being said, China will firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," said Mao.

The spokeswoman also stressed that no non-regional country has the right to interfere in the maritime disputes between China and the Philippines.

Tension has flared in recent months between China and the Philippines as they have traded accusations over several run-ins in the waterway, including charges that China rammed a ship last month carrying the Philippine armed forces chief of staff.

"Such risky manoeuvres violate the rights and economic development opportunities of your country and other neighbouring countries," Annalena Baerbock told a joint news conference with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

"For countries around the world, they call into question the freedom of the sea routes guaranteed under international law in an area through which a third of global maritime trade flows," she said.

China claims sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, pointing to a line on its maps that cuts into the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague said China's claims had no legal basis. China has rejected that ruling.

"The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea speaks clearly to China's claims to extensive maritime areas in the South China Sea," said Baerbock, who also met with the Philippine president and separately with the chief of the Philippine Coast Guard onboard a ship.

Baerbock was in Manila for a two-day official visit, the first by a German foreign minister to the Philippines in more than a decade, as the two nations mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/12/24/non-regional-states-have-no-right-to-interfere-in-ph-china-maritime-disputes-minister

PBBM approves promotion of 12 PNP, AFP senior officers

From the Manila Bulletin (Jan 12, 2024): PBBM approves promotion of 12 PNP, AFP senior officers (By MARTIN SADONGDONG)

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has approved the promotion of four Philippine National Police (PNP) generals and eight senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), it was announced on Friday, Jan. 12.

PNP Chief Police Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. led the donning of new ranks to Police Lt. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, commander of Area Police Command-Western Mindanao; Police Major Gen. Ronald Lee, director of Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development (DHRDD); Police Brig. Gen. Ramil Montilla, executive officer of the Area Police Command-Eastern Mindanao; and Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Marallag, acting director of the Headquarters Support Service (HSS).

The ceremony was held at the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Acorda expressed confidence in the capabilities of the newly promoted police generals as he encouraged them to use the feat as a reminder that the pursuit of excellence is a continuous journey.

He urged the newly promoted officers to wear their stars with pride, carry them with humility, and serve with honor, integrity, and an unwavering pursuit of justice.

"To the families of the newly promoted officers, your crucial role in supporting and enabling our officers to focus on their duties with dedication and commitment is acknowledged and appreciated," Acorda said.

Meanwhile, the eight newly promoted AFP officers were Maj. Gen. Edmundo Peralta, chief of the Intelligence Service AFP (ISAFP); Maj. Gen. Allan Hambala, commander of the Philippine Army (PA) 10th Infantry Division; Maj. Gen. Leodevic Guinid, Philippine Army Vice Commander; Maj. Gen. Ramon Zagala, commander of the Civil Relations Service of AFP (CRSAFP);

Commodore Richard Gonzaga, deputy commander of AFP Education, Training, and Doctrine Command (ETDC); Brig. Gen. Joselito Lopeña, chief of the AFP Pension and Gratuity Management Center (PGMC); Commodore Brendo Casaclang, commander of Joint Task Force (JTF) Malampaya; and Brig. Gen. Ranulfo Sevilla, deputy commander of Special Operations Command AFP (SOCOM).

Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., AFP Chief of Staff, donned the higher ranks to the eight newly promoted officers in a ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo.

"Please continue doing the good work that you are doing. Remember that we are doing all this for our country and I am sure that with your new ranks, you will be even more inspired to work harder for our people and our country," Brawner said.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/12/pbbm-approves-promotion-of-12-pnp-afp-senior-officers#google_vignette

'Clandestine' fuel transfer from US to Subic might raise regional tension -- groups

From the Manila Bulletin (Jan 12, 2024): 'Clandestine' fuel transfer from US to Subic might raise regional tension -- groups (By MARTIN SADONGDONG)

The spoiled transfer of 39 million gallons of fuel from a United States military facility to Subic Bay, Zambales stirred controversy as progressive groups sought the Philippines and US governments to explain the "clandestine" work, fearing that it that might raise regional tension.

Activist group "Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan" (SPARK) and progressive coalition, "Stop the War", said that the covert transfer of fuel from Red Hill -- a US military facility in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii -- to a storage facility in Subic Bay Freeport, a former US naval base, using commercial tanker Yosemite Trader reeks of "militarization" in the Southeast Asian Sea.

"This is not something that we can say is just a fuel transfer. This is, for us, a fuel transfer that is curiously enough to fuel a fleet, and so we want explanations immediately from the government of the Philippines and the United States. What is this 39 million gallons of naval fuel for?" said John Lazaro, national coordinator of SPARK, in a statement on Thursday, Jan. 11, following a joint press conference with Stop the War.

"Because if we are left in the dark, we are only left to make the logical conclusion that this 39 million gallons of naval fuel is going to be used to intensify militarization in the Southeast Asian Sea," he added.

As this developed, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) reportedly said that Yosemite Trader has already cancelled its application for entry in the country.

Despite this, SPARK and Stop the War said that the transfer of military fuel must still be explained to the public by both governments.

According to Lazaro, the fuel transfer from the Red Hill facility in Hawaii to Subic was already reported by Joint Task Force Red Hill through the websites of the US Marines and the US Indo-Pacific Command.

"The more militarization in the Southeast Asia Sea, the more tensions will rise, the more we will see the chance of conflict escalating in our own backyard – and who is going to be at the frontlines of this conflict? None other than the Republic of the Philippines. And who is going to face the brunt of the costs of this war – not just financial, but also physical, environmental, social, generational? It is going to be the citizens of the Republic of the Philippines," he said.

Tension between the Philippines and China remains high due to overlapping maritime claims in the South China Sea.

This was further intensified by the power struggle between China and the US over the Taiwan conflict, with groups fearing that the Philippines might be caught in the crossfire if the tension escalates into a full blown war.

The issue came to fore when Senator Imee Marcos asked the Department of National Defense (DND) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to explain the fuel transfer as it involved the US military.

The DND confirmed that the shipment of fuel is part of "regular commercial transactions" between the US government and Philippine companies.

Meanwhile, the AFP distanced itself in the issue, saying that the military had nothing to do with the fuel shipment as the process followed by both countries was administrative in nature and they were not involved in it.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/11/clandestine-fuel-transfer-from-us-to-subic-might-raise-regional-tension-groups

Bayan Muna Cautions Vs Philippines Becoming United States Military Supply Hub

Posted to Politiko (Jan 12, 2024): Bayan Muna Cautions Vs Philippines Becoming United States Military Supply Hub (By By Billy Begas)

Bayan Muna is worried about the secret fuel transfer from the US military base in Hawaii to Subic Bay. Executive Vice President Carlos Zarate warns of potential risks, raising questions about transparency and national security.

Bayan Muna raises alarm over US fuel transfer to Subic Bay, expressing concerns about national security.

Executive VP Carlos Zarate warns of potential risks, highlighting the lack of transparency from the Department of National Defense.

The Philippines could unwittingly become entangled in US-initiated conflicts, jeopardizing the safety of its people.

Bayan Muna expressed grave concern on Friday over the reported fuel transfer from the US military facility in Pearl Harbor in Hawaii via the tanker Yosemite Trader to a commercial storage facility in Subic Bay, Zambales.

Bayan Muna Executive Vice President Carlos Isagani Zarate said that once again the Philippines has turned into a storage facility for US war supplies.

He cautioned that this situation could potentially make the Philippines a target for enemies of the United States.

“The Philippines is in danger of once again being dragged into US-initiated armed conflicts with other countries that are not necessarily the enemies of the Filipino people,” Zarate warned.

During the Vietnam War, Zarate noted, the US military base in the country was used in America’s “interventionist war.”

Zarate has questioned the lack of transparency and information regarding the fuel shipment, particularly on the part of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

He also stressed the need for the “utmost safety and security measures, as well as environmental and health assessments, should the fuel transfer be allowed in the future. The potential risks associated with such large-scale transfers must be addressed to protect the well-being of the Filipino people and the environment.”

The former lawmaker also noted that Subic Bay is not among the bases designated under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

[Note: Bayan Muna (People First) is a Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) partylist political party and communist political front. The group is a political spin-off from the main CPP mulitisectoral umbrella front organization the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-New Patriotic Alliance). Bayan Muna and other associated CPP front organizations routinely opposed any US military presence in the Philippines.]

https://politiko.com.ph/2024/01/12/bayan-muna-cautions-vs-philippines-becoming-united-states-military-supply-hub/politiko-lokal/

Tanker carrying US Navy fuel for Philippines storage cancels entry to Subic

Posted to The Star (Jan 12, 2024): Tanker carrying US Navy fuel for Philippines storage cancels entry to Subic

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT: A commercial tanker that was supposed to transfer 39 million gallons of fuel from a United States military facility to a commercial storage here has cancelled its application for entry, an official of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said on Thursday (Jan 11).

Armie Llamas, officer in charge of the SBMA’s office of the deputy administrator for corporate communications, said the tanker Yosemite Trader had canceled its request for a port call, based on information coming from the agency’s seaport department.

Llamas did not say the reason for the cancellation, but the disclosure came a day after Sen. Imee Marcos issued a statement questioning the apparent lack of transparency about the shipment, particularly on the part of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, since it involves dealings with the US military.

Marcos, the elder sister of the President and chair of the Senate committee on foreign relations, called out the DND and AFP for their “inexplicable silence” on the matter, asking whether they were using the Mutual Defence Treaty as “a license” to keep it under wraps.

Subic Bay, she added, is also not among the bases that the US military can use to preposition forces or equipment under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca).

Llamas said the SBMA earlier received a communication from the US Navy on Tuesday for the planned fuel transfer in Subic, a former US naval base. She did not elaborate.

Also on Thursday, the US Embassy in Manila confirmed that the commercial tanker was already in the vicinity of Subic Bay to transfer its cargo of fuel that came from the US military facility at Red Hill, Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii.

The Yosemite Trader was carrying “safe, clean fuel” and arrangements for the cargo’s transfer and storage in Subic were done through “proper channels,” according to a statement issued by the embassy’s spokesperson, Kanishka Gangopadhyay.

In a message to the Inquirer, Gangopadhyay also said the fuel “has not been sold or donated to the Philippine government” but that he “can’t speak [on] the future use of this fuel.”

“All arrangements for the transfer and storage of this fuel were made through the proper channels, using established logistics contracts with Philippine commercial entities,” Gangopadhyay said in his statement.

The embassy also explained that it was just “one of multiple shipments’’ of fuel from Pearl Harbor to other locations in the Indo-Pacific region.

Addressing the questions raised by Marcos, the DND said the fuel shipment was “part of regular commercial transactions between the US Government and Philippine companies.”

The AFP, on the other hand, maintained it had “nothing to explain on the fuel shipment.”

“The process that was followed by the US government, these are all administrative in nature and did not involve the participation of the armed forces,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar told reporters.

In March 2022, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III ordered the defueling and closure of the Red Hill storage facility following a jet fuel leak that affected thousands of residents near the air base.

At the time, Austin said the millions of gallons of fuel will be redistributed across the Indo-Pacific and “will better position the United States to meet future challenges in the region.”

The closure “will better support our operations in the Pacific theater, while caring for the health and safety of the people of Hawaii and our military families,” he said.

Before the cancellation was disclosed by the SBMA, the fuel shipments from the Red Hill storage facility were already drawing protests from local and international civil society groups.

The US-based advocacy group Hawai’i Justice and Peace said the US Navy had “repeatedly lied to the people of Hawaii, including military families, about the safety of the drinking water” sourced from a major aquifer located only a hundred feet away from Red Hill.

“The military did not admit to the fuel leak until people who lived nearby reported smelling fuel in their water,” the group said. “This endangered the lives of 93,000 people, and the impact continues to be felt to this day. Now, millions of [taxpayer] money are spent on decommissioning the Red Hill military storage facility.”

Among Filipino groups, Stop the War Coalition Philippines said it would demand answers from the government should it allow the fuel transfer.

“Aside from health and environmental repercussions, the security risk is posed by who will ultimately use it, what they will use it for, and who will be responsible for securing it,” the coalition said on Thursday. “We are talking about massive amounts of dangerous, combustible substances. We demand answers, accountability and transparency in this matter that will impact the public.” —Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN

https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2024/01/12/tanker-carrying-us-navy-fuel-for-philippines-storage-cancels-entry-to-subic

‘Buy anti-sub warfare from Indonesia’

From the Daily Tribune (Jan 11, 2024): ‘Buy anti-sub warfare from Indonesia’ (By Tiziana Celine Piatos)

President Joko Widodo said Indonesia and the Philippines will cooperate in strengthening their borders 

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to support the Philippine Navy’s intended acquisition of an anti-submarine aircraft from his country.

During their bilateral meeting in Malacañang on Wednesday, Widodo advocated for better border security collaboration and delineated borders for the continental shelf.

“I seek your excellency’s support related to the purchase of a submarine warfare aircraft for the Philippine Navy from Indonesia,” Widodo told Marcos.

Widodo, however, did not disclose the model and cost of the aircraft Indonesia intends to sell to the Philippines.

As maritime tensions between China and the Philippines continue to flare up, the Armed Forces of the Philippines announced in 2023 that it would station an anti-submarine helicopter in the West Philippine Sea.

Two anti-submarine helicopters, one an AW159 Wildcat that can identify and take out submarines breaking into Philippine waters unlawfully, have been acquired by the AFP from the United Kingdom.

AFP officials say the Philippines intends to purchase four additional anti-submarine helicopters in the coming years.

Widodo also pushed for increased opportunities for state-owned and private businesses in his nation to support development projects in the Philippines.

Widodo said he and Marcos agreed “to expedite the revision of joint border patrol and crossing agreements and to strengthen their defense cooperation, including on military hardware.”

Phl, Indonesia should unite to tackle regional issues

Marcos, for his part, said the Philippines and Indonesia must remain united to tackle the current regional challenges, as both presidents gave an overview of their security accord.

“As immediate neighbors and fellow archipelagic states,” Marcos said. “The Philippines and Indonesia agree to continue our cooperation on political and security matters.”

He added: “As neighbors, we must remain united in addressing the many challenges that our region now faces.”

Marcos commended Widodo’s “visionary leadership” and “strong commitment” to promoting and enhancing the long-standing and close ties between the Philippines and Indonesia.

Widodo said the neighbors will also cooperate in strengthening their borders.

“In the field of politics and security, we have agreed to strengthen border cooperation,” he said, adding that he had conveyed the importance of accelerating the revisions of their border patrol agreement and strengthening defense cooperation.

Indonesia and the Philippines — together with Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand — are founding members of ASEAN. With ten members, the bloc’s unity has been tested by the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, one of its members, as well as the problems with China in the South China Sea.

Widodo and Marcos acknowledged the significance of bolstering the unity of the Southeast Asian nations. He emphasized that the phrase “is not merely jargon, and for (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) to continue to uphold the principles of international law, and become a positive force for peace, stability, and prosperity.”

In a joint press statement in Malacañang, Marcos said he and Widodo had an honest and productive talk regarding developments in the South China Sea and their adherence to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.

“President Widodo and I had a fruitful and honest discussion on regional events of mutual interest, such as the developments in the South China Sea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations cooperation and initiatives,” he said.

“As founding members of ASEAN and the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, the Philippines and Indonesia affirmed our insistence on UNCLOS,” Marcos said.

He added that the Philippines and Indonesia have decided to continue working together on political and security issues since they are close neighbors and fellow archipelagic states, citing the recently finished Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, or JCBC, presided over by their respective foreign ministers.

“We agreed to strengthen border cooperation, which I conveyed the importance of encouraging the acceleration of the revision of the border patrol agreement, the border crossing agreement, and the settlement of the continental shelf boundary as well as strengthening defense cooperation, including defense equipment,” he said.

Widodo is on an official visit to Manila until 11 January. The Indonesian president has visited the factory of carrageenan supplier W Hydrocolloids Inc. and instant coffee manufacturer Kopiko Philippines Corp.

His next stops are expected to be Vietnam and Brunei.

https://tribune.net.ph/2024/01/buy-anti-sub-warfare-from-indonesia/#google_vignette

AFP’s main challenges: Preserving, protecting Philippines territory, sovereignty

From the Philippine Star (Jan 13, 2024): AFP’s main challenges: Preserving, protecting Philippines territory, sovereignty (Michael Punongbayan)

Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. holds his first press briefing as the newly appointed secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on June 07, 2023.
STAR / Ernie Penaredondo

MANILA, Philippines — Without specifically mentioning the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the country’s current problems with China in the area, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said preserving and protecting Philippine territory and sovereignty tops the military’s main challenges for 2024.

In his message during the traditional New Year’s call in Camp Aguinaldo yesterday, he said the Department of National Defense (DND) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should remain united in accomplishing the goal.

Teodoro said the mission is “to preserve and protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of the Philippines; maintain peace and order; work together with allies to make, not only the Philippines, but this region – the Indo-Pacific Region – and the world a better place to be in.”


He issued the statements amid China’s increasing presence and aggressiveness in the WPS marked by harassment and water cannon attacks on Philippine vessels inside the country’s exclusive economic zone in 2023.

Teodoro, during the event, said transforming the whole defense department, with its civilian bureaus and the AFP, will continue into the new year.

“We thank the whole defense family for the cooperation that they have shown last year in the midst of our attempts to transform our organization into a new defense organization with new skills, new paradigms and new capabilities,” he said.

“We shall continue that effort this year and we hope that we have the same unconditional cooperation from each and every one of you,” he added.

Teodoro said he is grateful that the DND and AFP have the unconditional support of the commander-in-chief, President Marcos, and encouraged members of the defense establishment to stay united.

“We shall be blessed because we are one, we are united and we cannot be divided because we have a mission,” Teodoro, who has been very vocal in countering and denouncing China’s aggressive actions in Philippine territorial waters, said.

For his part, AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said that for 2024, the military organization will focus on the development of materiel and capabilities through its modernization program, adding that the military will also prioritize the organizational development of its reserve force.

“It is through these transformative efforts that we aim to elevate our military capabilities across all dimensions. The new year marks the genesis of a more dedicated, professional and modernized Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.
‘Fishy’

Sen. Imee Marcos found suspicious the United States’ aborted plan of transferring 39 million gallons of fuel from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to Subic Bay.

“All the more fishy,” the sister of President Marcos said in a message to reporters yesterday.

She was reacting to reports that the US-registered commercial tanker Yosemite Trader cancelled its request for port call at Subic.

The senator cited US embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay that the planned transfer of the oil cargo onboard the tanker was “proper” and compliant with “logistics contracts with Philippine commercial entities.”

“Weren’t we assured just yesterday that the shipment went through the proper channels and is a standard commercial transaction?” Marcos said.

She earlier demanded an explanation from authorities for allowing in secret the shipment of 39 million gallons of fuel, a volume which the senator found “way past standard commercial transaction.”

“If it was legitimate, they should have pushed through with it. Where’s all that gasoline now – polluting Philippine waters and the entire Pacific?” she said.

Marcos scored the plan to use Subic Bay as a storage facility for US fuel when it is not a site under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

She expressed suspicion that the US is prepositioning military supplies in the Pacific amid its diplomatic row with China over Taiwan.

“The Mutual Defense Treaty is not a license to leave the Filipino people in the dark,” Marcos said, referring to the pact that allows the US and the Philippines to come to each other’s aid in case of armed attack.

“This is not just an issue of foreign policy but of Philippine sovereignty, even environmental safety. The government better have a clear explanation for this,” added the senator, who chairs the Senate foreign relations committee. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/01/13/2325465/afps-main-challenges-preserving-protecting-philippines-territory-sovereignty

Indonesia Urges Philippines to Buy Anti-Submarine Aircraft

From the Defense Post (Jan 12, 2024): Indonesia Urges Philippines to Buy Anti-Submarine Aircraft (By JUSTER DOMINGO)

 

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Photo: Presidential Communications Office Philippines

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has asked Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to buy anti-submarine aircraft from Jakarta.

Widodo shared his statement during a bilateral meeting with Marcos in Manila, where defense and border patrol issues were discussed.

No further details were mentioned as to which specific aircraft the leader is offering to hand over to the Philippines, and Marcos has yet to respond to Widodo’s proposal.

The offer comes amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea, where the Philippines is involved in a diplomatic row with China concerning maritime zones.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) plans to purchase four more anti-submarine choppers in the coming years to bolster its regional defense.
On Sea Sovereignty

The Philippines has recently boosted its maritime patrols in an effort to counter China’s growing presence in the area.

Last year, the country’s military began considering an overhaul on its modernization program, which has been suffering from budget constraints.

Additionally, the return of joint patrols with US troops in the South China Sea was also announced, which were previously suspended by former president Rodrigo Duterte.

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2024/01/12/indonesia-philippines-anti-submarine-aircraft/#google_vignette

P91.47M financial aid given to rebel surrenderers under Marcos admin

From the Sun Star-Manila (Jan 12, 2024): P91.47M financial aid given to rebel surrenderers under Marcos admin (By Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo)

New People's Army rebels (File photo)

A TOTAL of P91.47 million worth of financial assistance were provided to former rebels and surrenderers through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (EClip) under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In a report to Malacañang, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said a total of 1,119 former rebels, consisting of 821 New People’s Army (NPA) fighters and 298 Militia ng Bayan (MB) members, have received financial assistance as of November 2023.

The DILG said 1,055 beneficiaries received immediate assistance, 713 were bestowed with livelihood assistance, 1,074 were reintegrated and 264 received renumeration for the firearms they turned over to government forces.

In a bid to further strengthen the peace-building efforts of local government units (LGUs) under the Campaign to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (Elcac), the DILG said it is continuously implementing the Communicating for Perpetual End for Extreme Violence and Forming Alliance Towards Positive Peace and Enriched Communities (C4Peace) Program, which utilizes two primary convergence mechanisms.

These mechanisms include the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) and the Capacitating Urban Communities for Peace and Development (CUCPD), which support and enhance LGU capabilities in addressing governance and development gaps, especially in conflict-affected and vulnerable communities.

The DILG also maintained its commitment to advocate the government’s fight against violent extremism through the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Program.

Under the program, the agency conducted PCVE and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) awareness and preparedness training to address grave security threats posed by terrorism and the use of weapons of mass destruction.

Earlier, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) said the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) National Democratic Front of the Philippines, only has remaining 14 “weakened” guerilla fronts.

NTF-Elcac executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said all the other guerilla fronts of the communist group have already been dismantled. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/p9147m-financial-aid-given-to-rebel-surrenderers-under-marcos-admin

2 NPA supporters surrender in Isabela

From the Manila Bulletin (Jan 11, 2023): 2 NPA supporters surrender in Isabela (BY LIEZLE BASA IÑIGO)

SANTA MARIA, Isabela – Two New People’s Army supporters surrendered to authorities on January 11.



SURRENDERRERS Lita (left) and Jon.

The surrender of alias Jon, 47, and Lita, 67, residents of Barangay Bangad here was facilitated by the police and the Army.

They said that they were recruited by a woman named Dominga Liaban Aberion, facilitator of Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura, in 2018.

They actively participated in meetings and rallies of the UMA in the province of Isabela against the government.

The duo was promised by the group that they will help them solve their problems regarding low wages and excessive working hours in a sugarcane plantation in the municipality.

They were also assured assistance in claiming aid in the aftermath of typhoon “Lawin” that ravaged the area in 2018.

The Isabela police led by Police Col. Lee Allen B. Bauding, provincial director, said there is no let-up in their anti-insurgency campaign so that no citizen in this province will be deceived by Leftist groups.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/12/2-npa-supporters-surrender-in-isabela#google_vignette

Suspected rebel nabbed for multiple attempted murder raps

From the Daily Guardian (Jan 13, 2024): Suspected rebel nabbed for multiple attempted murder raps (By Jennifer P. Rendon)

An alleged New People’s Army (NPA) member was arrested evening of Jan. 11 in a hinterland village of Tubungan, Iloilo.

Abris Tacaisan, 34, a resident of Barangay Igcabugao, Igbaras, is facing charges for multiple attempted murder.

A member of the Suyak Platoon of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay (KR-P)’s Southern Front, Tacaissn was apprehended at Barangay Igtuble, a village 14 kilometers away from Tubungan town.

Members of Tubungan Municipal Police Station, together with the 1st Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company, arrested the suspect by virtue of an arrest issued by Judge Irene Banzuela-Didulo of RTC-6 Branch 67 Guimbal, Iloilo on June 7, 2022.

Bailbond is fixed at P120,000.

Captain Alberto Manguilimotan, Tubungan police chief, said Tacaisan was charged along with NPA leader Joven Ceralvo and three others.

The incident happened in 2020 in Guimbal, Iloilo.

Manguilimotan said the suspect might also be facing charges filed against Hamtic, Antique.

https://dailyguardian.com.ph/suspected-rebel-nabbed-for-multiple-attempted-murder-raps/#google_vignette

2 sundalo patay sa tambang ng Dawlah

From Remate Online (Jan 6, 2024): 2 sundalo patay sa tambang ng Dawlah [2 soldiers dead in Dawlah ambush]

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Pinaigting ng 1st Infantry Division (ID) ng Army ang kanilang mga military operation laban sa mga armadong extremist group na sangkot sa pananambang noong Miyerkules na ikinamatay ng dalawang sundalo sa lalawigan ng Lanao del Norte.

Sa isang pahayag, kinondena ni Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray III, 1ID commander, ang “duwag na pagkilos ng karahasan” na naka-target sa mga sundalo ng Army’s 51st Infantry Battalion (51IB).

“Nananatili kaming determinado sa aming pangako na tiyakin ang kaligtasan at seguridad ng aming mga tropa at mga lokal na komunidad na aming pinaglilingkuran,” sabi ni Viray.

Base sa ulat ng militar, ang 51IB intelligence unit troopers na sina Staff Sergeants Raul Pabuaya at Murphy Delos Santos ay parehong nasawi nang paputukan sila ng anim na miyembro ng Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group sa kalsada.

Hinabol ng armadong grupo ang mga biktimang nakamotorsiklo sa Main Supply Route mula Barangay Lininding, Piagapo, Lanao del Sur patungong Munai, Lanao del Norte. Santi Celario

https://remate.ph/2-sundalo-patay-sa-tambang-ng-dawlah

6th ID, JTF Central mibida sa kalampusan sa tuig 2023

From Superbalita (Jan 8, 2024): 6th ID, JTF Central mibida sa kalampusan sa tuig 2023 (By Edgar E. Fuerzas) [6th ID, JTF Central starred in success in 2023]

Hulagway gikan sa 6th ID, PA pinaagi ni Edgar Fuerzas.

CENTRAL MINDANAO — Moabot ngadto sa 535 ka mga sakop sa nagkalain-laing Lawless Armed Groups (LAGs) ang napatay sa kasundalohan sa ilang padayon nga pagpaningkamot nga mamentinar ang kahapsay ug kalinaw sa Central ug South-Central Mindanao sa tuig 2023.

Matod ni 6th Infantry Division ug Joint Task Force Central commander Major General Alex Rillera, ang mga napatay mga sakop sa communist groups, BIFF, Daulah Islamiyah, ug uban pang lawless elements.

Giinsister ni Rillera nga ang kalampusan sa ilang mga paningkamot sa kalinaw sa miaging tuig tungod sa tabang sa mga local government units, stakeholders, ug mga sibilyan gikan sa ilang area of responsibilities (AORs).

Lakip sa mga napatay mao ang mga dagkong opisyal sa komunistang grupo nga naglakip nila ni Martin Min Fay alyas Kidlat; Rowe Libot; Algae Dalimbang; alyas Agpol; Arnold Laugo Amad; Joseph Longan alyas Michael; Saliki Matilak alyas Ingkang; Rey Masot Zambrano alyas Dodong ug daghan pang uban.

Napatay usab sa kasundalohan ang mga dagkong opisyal sa lokal nga mga teroristang grupo lakip sila si alyas Boy Jacket (BIFF field commander) ug alyas Abunasria (BIFF – Bungos Faction Sub-leader).

Si Bro Sapal, kinsa Amir sa Dawlah Islamiyah-Philippines, ug second-in-command Nasser Guinaid Saptullah wala usab makaikyas sa mga kamot sa kasundalohan, sila napatay sa usa ka military operation niadtong Disyembre 1, 2023.

Si Nasser maoy lider sa Dawlah Islamiyah group, iyang gihulipan ang namatay nga si alyas Abu Turaifie.

Ang Joint Tasked Force Central mihimo og 38 ka operasyon diin 57 ka indibidwal ang napatay samtang 22 ang samdan.

Miihap sa 262 ka tawo ang ilang napa-surrender ug 194 ang nadakpan sa nagkalain-laing operasyon apil na ang dunay warrant of arrest.

Naimbargo usab sa kasundalohan ang 363 ka mga armas, 207 ka IED/UXO ug lain-laing klase sa eksplosibo.

Adunay kinatibuk-an nga 570 nga mga materyales sa gubat, lakip ang mga armas ug mga eksplosibo, ang nakumpiska sa kasundalohan gikan sa dili awtorisado nga mga indibidwal.

Gibungkag usab sa kasundalohan ang 37 ka kampo sa kaaway gikan sa nagkalain-laing dapit sa Central ug South-Central Mindanao.

Sa padayong paningkamot sa mga field troops sa pagsumpo sa mga malapasong armadong grupo sa ilang hurisdiksyon, si General Rillera nangayo sa kooperasyon sa publiko.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/superbalita/6th-id-jtf-central-mibida-sa-kalampusan-sa-tuig-2023#google_vignette

South Cotabato police gets new P4-M worth SWAT van

From the Philippine Star (Jan 9, 2024): South Cotabato police gets new P4-M worth SWAT van (John Unson)

The P4 million worth van from the provincial government of South Cotabato is now being used in crime response missions of the provincial police office. Philstar.com / John Unson

KORONADAL CITY — The South Cotabato police received a P4 million worth tactical van from the governor’s office in the province, essential to its law-enforcement activities in the provincial capital, Koronadal City, and towns around it.

Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg, director of the Police Regional Office-12, said on Tuesday that he is thankful to Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. for providing the South Cotabato Provincial Police Office with a brand new van for its Special Weapons and Tactics unit.

Macaraeg said the unit was turned over by Tamayo during last week’s assumption to office of the new South Cotabato provincial police director, Col. Samuel Cadungon, who replaced Col. Arnold Santiago, whose brief stint as head of the force was only in acting capacity.

“We are thankful to the office of the South Cotabato provincial governor for this brand new tactical van,” Macaraeg told reporters on Tuesday via Viber message.

Macaraeg and the commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, Major Gen. Alex Rillera, had separately mentioned, in yearend reports last month, that the office of Tamayo had supported extensively the PRO-12 and 6th ID’s joint campaign in 2023 against the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Dawlah Islamiya.

Rillera, also commander of the anti-terror Joint Task Force Central, then said that the surrender to 6th ID in 2023 of 59 Dawlah Islamiya and BIFF members from across South Cotabato were secured via backdoor negotiations facilitated by their units and local executives in the province led by Tamayo.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/01/09/2324576/south-cotabato-police-gets-new-p4-m-worth-swat-van

Folks in Basilan's port city surrender rifles, machinegun

 From the Philippine Star (Jan 12, 2024): Folks in Basilan's port city surrender rifles, machinegun (John Unson)

The 20 high-powered firearms that barangay officials in Isabela City surrendered on Jan. 11, 2024 are now in the armory of the Army's 101st Infantry Brigade. Philstar.com / John Unson


COTABATO CITY — Barangay leaders in Isabela City in Basilan on Thursday surrendered to the military 19 combat rifles and a light machinegun in support of the government’s disarmament campaign complementing the Mindanao peace process.

Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of the Philippine Army, and Bangsamoro regional police director Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza separately announced on Friday the turnover of the firearms to the 101st Infantry Brigade via the 19th Special Forces Company during a symbolic rite in Barangay Tabuk in Isabela City, a port city in Basilan.

Galido told reporters here in a Viber message that the unlicensed firearms, one of which is an FN 5.56 light machinegun, were yielded voluntarily by owners through the joint intercession by Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, Basilan Gov. Hadjiman Salliman, Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon, who is commander of the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade, and the police director in the province, Col. Carlos Madronio.

“To these officials and the owners of the firearms, we are thankful,” Galido said.

Reports reaching the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region stated that the firearms were officially handed over to the 101st Infantry Brigade by the city administrator of Isabela City, Peter Eisma, on their mayor’s behalf.

Luzon and Madronio, who are together overseeing the Western Mindanao Command and PRO-BAR’s joint province-wide pacification programs in Basilan, are both expecting the surrender soon of more firearms by residents in the 11 towns in the Island province and in its two component-cities, Isabela and Lamitan.

“We have also been receiving reports from Army and police units in our province stating that the few remaining members of the Abu Sayyaf in our area are set to surrender soon for them to get reintroduced to mainstream society,” Salliman, now a third-termer governor, said.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/01/12/2325336/folks-basilans-port-city-surrender-rifles-machinegun

AFP 'serious' in supporting Bangsamoro peace process

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 12, 2024): AFP 'serious' in supporting Bangsamoro peace process (By Priam Nepomuceno)

COMMITMENT TO PEACE. Participants from various sectors, including the military, represented by AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (8th from right) pose for a photo during the "Recommitment Ceremony towards a Vibrant Bangsamoro" in Taguig City on Thursday (Jan. 11, 2024). The recommitment ceremony comes ahead of the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. (Photo courtesy of the AFP)

MANILA – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., joined other stakeholders in reciting a peace covenant on Thursday afternoon, reaffirming their seriousness in supporting the Bangsamoro peace process.

"It is the soldier, more than anyone else, who wants lasting peace and (our participation in this activity) is a manifestation of our commitment towards attaining a lasting peace. We are here to show our brothers in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that we are serious when it comes to the peace process," he said in a statement released by the AFP.

Brawner graced the "Recommitment Ceremony towards a Vibrant Bangsamoro" ceremony that was organized by the Principles for Peace Foundation.

The event also gathered ranking officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao officials; and representatives of various sectors.

OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., who was present at the ceremony, accepted the "pledge of commitment or peace covenant" signed by various stakeholders on behalf of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Special Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr.

Galvez said this initiative, along with other peace efforts, is a welcome development to ensure inclusive cooperation in the collective vision for the meaningful implementation of the Bangsamoro peace agreements.

"This pledge of commitment is a testament to our collective determination to help build a more robust peace constituency not only in the region but also in Mindanao," he said in a separate statement also on Thursday night.

Galvez said since the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro 10 years ago, the Bangsamoro Parliament has passed five of its priority codes that aim to uplift the people’s socioeconomic conditions and boost the region’s economy – the Administrative Code, Civil Service Code, Electoral Code, Local Government Code, and Education Code.

The third phase of the decommissioning process of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants was also completed last year, he added.

Galvez also noted the Bangsamoro Transition Authority's passage of the BARMM’s PHP100 billion budget for this year, saying it would help spur economic development and reduce poverty incidence in the region.

"We still have a relatively young BARMM government. We also have a region that has just taken the path toward genuine transformation and empowerment. But in the face of difficulties that come our way over the years, we have shown remarkable resilience and steadfast determination to push forward and build on the gains of peace," he added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1216806

DND chief eyes continued transformation, upgrades in 2024

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 12, 2024): DND chief eyes continued transformation, upgrades in 2024 (By Priam Nepomuceno)

TRANSFORMATION. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. speaks during the Department of National Defense-Armed Forces of the Philippines (DND-AFP) New Year's Call held in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Friday (Jan. 12, 2024). The DND chief said he would push for the continued upgrading of the agency's capabilities which include developing expertise in program management, analytics, predictions, contracting, international relations, and building up the career track of DND employees. (Photo courtesy of the DND)

MANILA – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday assured that the transformation program that started in 2023 to upgrade the agency's capabilities will continue this year.

“We thank the whole defense family for the cooperation that they have shown last year in the midst of our attempts to transform our organization into a new defense organization with new skills, new paradigms, and new capabilities,” Teodoro said in his message during the New Year's Call of the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Teodoro, who assumed as DND chief in June last year, said he will push for a "capital outlay" for the agency to build up its capabilities.

"And I would also like to add certain things that are important. We cannot continue to have a DND without a capital outlay for our own department. We need to build up the capabilities of this department as part of the national defense family. And I would like to state that (it is) one of my goals, to build up the capabilities of the Department of National Defense Proper," he added.

These include developing expertise in program management, analytics, predictions, contracting, international relations, and building up the career track of DND employees.

Teodoro also thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s "unconditional support" and encouraged all members of the defense establishment to remain united.

“We shall be blessed because we are one, we are united, and we cannot be divided because we have a mission to preserve and protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of the Philippines; maintain peace and order; work together with allies to make, not only the Philippines but this region – the Indo-Pacific Region– and the world a better place to be in,” he added.

AFP sees more capability development

In the same event, AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said they would focus on the continuous development of materiel and capabilities through the AFP Modernization Program this year.

He said AFP will also prioritize the organizational development of its reserve force.

“It is through these transformative efforts that we aim to elevate our military capabilities across all dimensions. The New Year marks the genesis of a more dedicated, professional and modernized AFP,” Brawner said.

"As we acknowledge the successes of 2023, we must recognize the honor, spirit and commitment of each and every member of the defense department and the AFP," he added.

8 ranking AFP officials promoted

As this developed, the AFP chief donned higher ranks to eight newly promoted military officers in a ceremony held in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Friday.

These include Maj. Gen. Edmundo Peralta, chief of the Intelligence Service AFP; Maj. Gen. Allan Hambala, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army; Maj. Gen. Leodevic Guinid, Army vice commander; Maj. Gen. Ramon Zagala, commander of the Civil Relations Service AFP; Commodore Richard Gonzaga, deputy commander of AFP Education, Training, and Doctrine Command; Brig. Gen. Joselito Lopeña, chief of the AFP Pension and Gratuity Management Center; Commodore Brendo Casaclang, commander of Joint Task Force Malampaya; and Brig. Gen. Ranulfo Sevilla, deputy commander of Special Operations Command AFP.

“Please continue doing the good work that you are doing. Remember that we are doing all this for our country and I am sure that with your new ranks, you will be even more inspired to work harder for our people and our country,” Brawner said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1216853