AFP: Pacific naval, marine, military leaders' meeting a 'show of unity'
"The way I look at it, instead of looking at it as a show of force, for me this is a show of unity among like-minded nations, who get together for a common value and that is to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. Now the PALS 2025 is a part of a series of activities that we conduct bilaterally with the United States and with our partners multilaterally," said AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. in a press conference during the opening of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS) 2025 in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
"For instance, we just finished the Balikatan exercise this year. Yesterday, we closed the Salaknib exercise between the PH Army and the US army, and today we opened the PALS. Again, for me, it's a show of unity," he added.
The PALS 2025, which will run until July 10, is participated by senior Marine Corps officers, naval infantry, and military leaders from allied and partner nations across the Indo-Pacific.
The symposium is a face-to-face engagement among participants to boost cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region's amphibious and maritime community.
"This iteration is an honor for the Philippines to host it, we want to get as much as takeaway as possible. And maybe some people might interpret it that way, but I would not want to detract from the importance that the participants will bring into their exchanges," said Department of National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.
This year's Balikatan annual joint military exercise between the Philippines and the US was held from April 21 to May 9. Some 17,000 troops were earlier expected to join, and engaged in a full battle exercise.
When asked if such dialogues or exercises among allied nations are targeted against a certain nation, Teodoro replied: "If the shoe fits, that's their problem. If any nation is against international law, who wants to change it unilaterally, wants to transgress on the rights of another country then so be it."
"I really don't know where this will end up. Insofar as I'm concerned, what is manageable to me now are stronger bilateral ties," the Philippine Defense chief added.
Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim.
The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."
China has refused to recognize the decision. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
10 minutes ago
- GMA Network
AFP in talks with US to use EDCA sites for PH relief efforts, says Teodoro
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is already coordinating with the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) to use the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites for relief efforts amid the heavy rainfall and floods across the country, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said Monday. 'Ako po'y kausap si General Brawner, sa ating Armed Forces of the Philippines, at iko-coordinate din po niya ang mga kinakailangan na tulong sa USINDOPACOM upang magamit ang EDCA facilities at iba't-iba pang mga kagamitan na kinakailangan na katulong ng ating Armed Forces of the Philippines upang makarsponde sa ating mga kababayan,' said Teodoro in a video statement. ('I am talking with General Romeo Brawner and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and he is coordinating the assistance we need from USINDOPACOM so we could use the EDCA facilities and the equipment that the AFP needs to assist our countrymen.) Signed in 2014, EDCA grants US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, the right to construct facilities, and pre-position equipment, aircraft and vessels, but rules out permanent basing. There are currently nine EDCA sites nationwide: Antonio Bautista Air Base (Palawan), Basa Air Base (Pampanga), Fort Magsaysay (Nueva Ecija), Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base (Cebu), Lumbia Air Base (Cagayan de Oro City), Naval Base Camilo Osias (Sta Ana, Cagayan), Lal-lo Airport (Lal-lo, Cagayan), Camp Melchor Dela Cruz (Gamu, Isabela), and in Balabac Island (Palawan). When the country was hit by Typhoon Kristine in October last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said EDCA sites should be maximized in the government's disaster response and relief efforts. The EDCA sites were eventually used in the government's disaster response efforts when a series of storms hit the country. Malacañang suspended classes and work in government offices in Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan at 1 p.m. State weather bureau PAGASA said earlier in the day that the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat will continue to bring rains over the country. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- GMA Network
AFP ready to evacuate Pinoys amid Middle East conflict —Brawner
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has a contingency plan for the possible evacuation of Filipinos amid the tension in the Middle East, its chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr., said on Tuesday. Brawner made the statement following the death of a Filipina caregiver in Israel due to injuries after an Iranian missile attack. 'Meron po tayong mga contingency plan. Ang tawag po natin dito sa operation na ito is non-combatant evacuation operation,' Brawner said in an ambush interview. (We have contingency plans. What we call this operation is a non-combatant evacuation operation.) 'Nakahanda rin po ang Armed Forces, nakahanda yung ating mga C-130, yung ating mga barko, just in case na kailanganin po na i-evacuate ulit 'yung ating mga kababayan pabalik dito sa ating bansa,' he added. (The Armed Forces, our C-130s, and our ships are also ready just in case it is necessary to evacuate our countrymen back to our country.) In the past decade, Brawner said the Philippines had evacuated Filipinos from the Middle East. 'Matagal na po nating ginagawa ito. Noong nakaraang dekada, noong nagkaroon ng problema po sa Middle East, ay nagpadala tayo ng dalawang barko na sunduin 'yung mga Pilipino na gustong umuwi po sa ating bansa,' he added. (We have been doing this for a long time. Last decade, when there was a problem in the Middle East, we sent two ships to pick up Filipinos who wanted to return to our country.) Aside from this, Brawner said he instructed AFP personnel to revisit and update their plan as well as prepare their platforms, including aircraft and ships. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) earlier expressed its condolences to the relatives of the Filipina caregiver who died in Israel after an Iranian missile attack. "The DMW deeply mourns the passing of OFW caregiver Leah Mosquera, a victim of an Iranian missile attack on the City of Rehovot, Israel last 15 June 2025," the DMW said. "We extend our deepest sympathy to Ms. Mosquera's family. Truly, OFW Leah's dedication and quiet heroism embody the strength and sacrifices of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who carry the hopes and dreams of their families, their communities, and our nation," it added. Mosquera, 49 and a native of Negros Occidental, underwent several surgeries at Shamir Medical Center and "fought for her life" in the intensive care unit for several weeks, according to the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv. Iran's offensive against Israel was in response to Tel Aviv's Operation Rising Lion, which is a military action supposed to deter or eradicate Tehran's nuclear program. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
7 days ago
- GMA Network
Colombian senator showing improvement after assassination attempt —clinic
Colombian presidential hopeful Senator Miguel Uribe remained sedated and on a ventilator, but "has shown a favorable and stable clinical response" to treatment, his doctors said five weeks after he was shot in the head. Raul Arboleda/ AFP BOGOTA — Colombian presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe is showing signs of improvement five weeks after he was shot in the head while giving a campaign speech, the clinic treating him in intensive care said Monday. Uribe, 39, was shot twice in the head and once in the leg by a 15-year-old suspected hitman in Bogota on June 7. He was admitted to hospital in a critical condition and underwent emergency surgery to stop internal bleeding. Five people have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack on the conservative senator, including the shooter and one of the alleged masterminds. The clinic said Monday Uribe remained sedated and on a ventilator, but "has shown a favorable and stable clinical response" to treatment. It added he will undergo "neurorehabilitation," a specialized therapy for people who suffered traumatic brain injury. Uribe's wife Maria Claudia Tarazona said Sunday his condition fluctuated wildly. "It changes so quickly and is so difficult that I don't even ask what will happen tomorrow," she told Caracol Television. "I see Miguel alive, his body warm, his heart beating, his breathing... and that's what I hold onto every day," she added. Colombia is experiencing its biggest security crisis in a decade, with President Gustavo Petro's "total peace" initiative widely considered to have failed as armed groups continue fighting for control of drug crops, illegal mining and trafficking routes. — Agence France-Presse
