00:00 No sooner had the US Navy decommissioned two of her veteran yet capable vessels and the
00:06 Philippine Navy puts them back into official service and action for high seas patrol.
00:12 Our Patrick De Jesus on the military and defense department rechristening and recommissioning
00:18 the BRP's Valentin Diaz and Ladislao Diwa in this report.
00:25 In the latest resupply vision, a China Coast Guard vessel chased the BRP Cabra, one of
00:31 Philippine Coast Guard ships that escorted the provision boats of the AFP while on the
00:37 way to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin, Sioula.
00:40 The Chinese ship almost collided with the Philippine ship.
00:44 Another CCG vessel also conducted a dangerous maneuver on another PCG ship, the BRP Sindangan.
00:52 And Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. called the latest aggressive actions by the Chinese
00:57 "irresponsible".
00:58 This is to me irresponsible behavior on the part of the Chinese Coast Guard.
01:05 And I think that the world knows who is in the right here.
01:11 There is no water canoning but the maneuvers they did to our fellow Philippine Coast Guard
01:19 are more dangerous.
01:20 In this, Teodoro emphasized the need to improve our defense capability in protecting our territories.
01:27 He added, "The weak are being overwhelmed by the strong.
01:33 That is why we should do is to discuss together based on a principled framework.
01:42 And behind this, we should be united as a nation, as a nation of our armed forces of
01:52 the Philippines."
01:53 Earlier, two newly acquired Philippine Navy ships, the BRP Valentin Dias and BRP Ladislao
01:59 Diwa, were formally commissioned to service.
02:03 These ships were former Cyclone-class patrol vessels of the U.S. Navy and donated by the
02:09 United States government under their Excess Defense Article.
02:13 The ships are 55 meters long and can easily maneuver in coastal and shallow waters which
02:20 are good for patrol operations and surveillance.
02:23 The U.S. assures continued support to our armed forces.
02:28 As the Philippines continues its courageous stand to uphold the international order and
02:34 defend its rights in the West Philippine Sea, rest assured the United States stands with
02:41 you in this all-important endeavor.
02:45 Teodoro said, "There is a re-strategization or re-horizoning in the modernization of the
02:51 AFP, and aid from allied countries is welcome.
02:54 This, to ensure the assets being acquired can really enhance our defensive posture."
03:00 "The modernization should not be piecemeal, it should be interoperable, and it should
03:10 have a difference in our credible deterrent posture, not just the appearance of people
03:17 if it is not a true modernization."
03:20 The newly patrolled vessels will be used for coastal patrol duties in our territory and
03:25 other naval, humanitarian, and disaster relief operations.
03:33 *outro*
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