AFP TO ‘HARDEN’ FACILITIES VS. POSSIBLE MISSILE THREATS

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday said it would harden its facilities against possible missile attacks, even as it was still verifying information about such threats from China as reported by Senator Imee Marcos.

In a press briefing after a command conference with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military would harden its facilities to be protected from such attacks.

"Tinitignan natin lahat 'yan. 'Yung possibilities na hinaharap natin. So of course, a missile attack is a possibility... That is why we are also preparing for those," he said.

(We are all looking at that. The possibilities we are facing. So of course, a missile attack is a possibility... That is why we are also preparing for those.)

"Ang isa pong puwede nating gawin is we harden our facilities. We protect our facilities from possible missile attacks," he added.

(The only thing we can do is harden our facilities. We protect our facilities from possible missile attacks.)

Marcos recently expressed alarm over China's supposed plan to use hypersonic missiles against EDCA sites in the country.

Brawner, however, said the military has yet to receive information on the missile threat.

"As to the report that Senator Imee mentioned about the 25 targets, alleged targets, wala pa ho kaming nakikita na report to this effect na may 25 targets. So hindi po talaga ako makakapagbigay ng comment tungkol dito," Brawner said.

(As to the report that Senator Imee mentioned about the 25 targets, alleged targets, we have not seen a report to this effect. So I cannot give a comment about this.)

"We are still in the process of verifying this," said Brawner, who appealed to the Filipino public not to panic amid the senator's statements.

Drone attacks

Brawner said the military is also preparing to deter possible attacks such as drone attacks using advanced technologies.

"Hindi lamang po itong missile attacks even drone attacks. Nakikita naman natin yung nangyayari ngayon sa Ukraine even in Israel and Gaza. So nakikita na natin yung mukha ng modern warfare," he said.

(It's not just missile attacks even drone attacks. We see this happening now in Ukraine even in Israel and Gaza. So we can see the face of modern warfare.)

"Dahil dito pinag-aaralan po natin lahat ito at kailangan din nating gumawa ng aksyon, hakbangin that will allow us to defend the country from these kinds of attacks," he added.

(Because of this, we are studying all of this and we also need to take action or steps that will allow us to defend the country from these kinds of attacks.)

Territorial defense plan

During the command conference, the AFP presented to Marcos an updated territorial defense plan or "Bantay Kalayaan" that will address the infiltration of foreign powers into different sectors in the country.

"Natuwa naman po ang ating Pangulo dahil nakita niya na very holistic ang ating approach. Hindi lamang po kasi tayo nakatingin sa labas ng ating bansa pero nakatingin din po tayo sa loob," he said.

(Our President was happy because he saw that our approach is very holistic. We are not only looking at the outside of our country but we are also looking inside.)

"Meaning, when we talk about territorial defense, we are not just doing external looking outward but we are also looking inward and addressing the united front works ng ibang bansa na gustong impluwensyahan yung iba't ibang sector ng society natin," he added.

(Meaning, when we talk about territorial defense, we are not just looking externally but we are also looking inward, and we are addressing the united front works of other countries that want to influence the different sectors of our society.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News

This article AFP to ‘harden’ facilities vs. possible missile threats was originally published in GMA News Online.

2024-07-04T10:07:20Z dg43tfdfdgfd