The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) called out retired military officials who were allegedly echoing “defeatist” narratives related to the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). (via Martin Sadongdong | MB)
00:00It has come to the attention of the leadership of the armed forces that some retired members of the AFP have been posting online some comments that we think we have to address.
00:15First and foremost, those attributed to retired senior officers, that we are a pawn and a power play between the United States and China, brought about by the threats the country is facing.
00:30Number two, the AFP has its campaign plan, campaign plan mulat.
00:34Based on feedback from different surveys, awareness and acceptance by the Filipino people is quite high, 87% if I'm not mistaken.
00:44Number three, there are still a few mouthpieces in the Philippines, Filipino mouthpieces, that have been speaking out the discourse and the narrative of the Chinese Communist Party.
00:55This is very unbecoming of a Filipino.
00:57We have to be very clear that we should understand ano ang pinaglalaban ng inyong AFP.
01:04Kung ikaw ay tunay na Filipino, hindi mo dapat inuulit ang linya ng Partido Pumunisan ng Pilipinas.
01:12Every Filipino must be very aware that the design, the desire of the Chinese Communist Party is to sow malign influence to be able to shape public perception to their favor.
01:27It will not help that there are Filipinos mouthing out the same lines given out by the Chinese Communist Party.
01:34The cognitive domain, the minds of the members of the AFP are aware, ready to protect the cognitive domain of the members of the AFP.
01:44For the retard, we would like to call on all members who want served in the armed forces, who want for the uniform, with dignity and pride, to be more responsible in their statements.
01:54Sir, is the AFP concerned about this matter na meron na mga retired AFP officers na tila sumasalungat dun sa gustong iparating na mensahe ng AFP?
02:05Yes, we are taking it with concern. Hence, we are addressing it.
02:08The Chief has been very clear on his first State of the Nation address when he mentioned not one square inch.
02:16That has been the guiding guidance, the guiding principle, the guiding policy that was amplified by the Secretary of National Defense when he mentioned about the comprehensive archipelagic defense concept.
02:28The AFP currently has its own campaign plans and its own strategies to be able to implement the guidance of the President and the Secretary of National Defense.
02:39So far, there has been no shift in the direction of the policy of the government, although we do not comment on matters of policy.
02:47We focus on our strategy.
02:49Because of the policy, there are organizational changes in the AFP to make the armed forces more responsive to regional defense operations.
02:59That's as much as I will do for now.
03:01We will not fight for the interests of another country, nor will we be dictated by them.
03:09Standing up for our rights does not mean being subservient to the interests of another country.
03:16We won on paper.
03:19The 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling is more than just a paper victory.
03:26We stood up to the Chinese Communist Party.
03:30We stood firm for international law, for freedom of navigation, for our sovereignty and sovereign rights.
03:40We stood firm for the future of this country and the future generation of Filipinos.
03:46On being turned into another Ukraine.
03:49These statements are defeatist and alarmist.
03:55They sent a wrong message, especially to the Filipino people and even to the former men and women of the armed forces who served under these retired senior officers.
04:07We expect more from them, more responsible statements that will show the strength of the country and that we can argue resolve as a people.
04:19Just because we have our modernization program, does not mean we have any intention to fight another country.
04:30If I may paraphrase the commander-in-chief in the command call this morning, when he mentioned, and I state, we have no desire to attack anyone.
04:41Let me just add to that.
04:44On the other hand, your armed forces has every desire to ensure the integrity of the national territory.
04:53We have every desire to protect our sovereignty and our sovereign rights.
05:00It is a misleading statement to say that we are being turned into another Ukraine.
05:06We are not preparing the armed forces for offense.
05:10We are preparing the armed forces to defend what is legally and rightfully the Filipinos.
05:23We are experiencing the�보�c staff.
05:42We are preparing the armed forces to protect our own proceso and the Husband kings who have been béats along with no activity yet.
