MANILA, Philippines – Ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ay ginagawang moderno hindi para sa mga layuning opensiba kundi para palakasin ang mga kakayahan sa depensa ng bansa, sinabi ng isang opisyal nitong Huwebes, Hulyo 17.
“Just because we have our modernization program does not mean we have any intention to fight another country,” saad ni Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad.
“If I may paraphrase the commander-in-chief (President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) in the command conference this morning when he mentioned, and I state, we have no desire to attack anyone.”
Ang tinutukoy ni Trinidad ay ang AFP Mid-Year Command Conference na ginanap kanina sa Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, na dinaluhan nina Marcos, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., at iba pang ranggo ng mga opisyal ng Gabinete at militar.
Pinabulaanan din ng opisyal ng Navy ang pahayag ng isang retiradong heneral ng Philippine Air Force na ang Pilipinas ay ginagawang kagaya ng Ukraine at ginagamit bilang “pawn” sa power play sa pagitan ng China at United States.
“We are not preparing the Armed Forces for offense. We are preparing the Armed Forces to defend what is legally and rightfully the Filipinos,” ayon kay Trinidad said, na binabanggit na ang Pilipinas ay isang sovereign state na may mga pambansang interes.
“All the actions of the Armed Forces are in furtherance of this national interest. We will not fight for the interests of another country, nor will we be dictated by them. Standing up for our rights does not mean being subservient to the interests of another country,” ani Trinidad. RNT/MND
