00:00The Armed Forces of the Philippines or AFP remains unfazed by the heated exchanges regarding the West Philippine Sea.
00:06Their mandate also remains clear for them to protect the said territory, even if it means sacrificing their lives.
00:13Meanwhile, the Kalayaan Palawan LGU wants Senator Rodante Marcoleta's debate challenge to be held in Pag-Asa Island.
00:21Patrick DeJesus has the full details in this report.
00:23The Armed Forces of the Philippines is in favor of the initiative to invite government officials to visit the West Philippine Sea.
00:35This is in relation to the invitation made by Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea,
00:41Commodore J. Tariela, to the father and son, Senator Rodante Marcoleta, and Representative Paolo Marcoleta,
00:48to visit the Kalayaan Island Group following their recent statements.
00:52We support the Philippine Coast and the move to invite officials.
00:56Case-to-case basis, we invite government officials to visit the island.
01:00Senator Marcoleta earlier said that he first wants a friendly debate with retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio,
01:09UP Professor Attorney J. Batong Bakal, and Commodore Tariela.
01:14For Tariela, the West Philippine Sea should no longer be debated
01:18because it has already been affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award,
01:24as well as the country's constitution and domestic laws.
01:27He also said that his invitation remains open for the Marcoleta father and son
01:32to join a maritime domain awareness flight or a sovereign patrol aboard a PCG vessel.
01:38But Carpio accepted Marcoleta's debate challenge and said the topic should focus on the legal definition of the West Philippine Sea,
01:48including the Kalayaan Island Group.
01:50Handa ako if we can debate on that.
01:54My goal is the people will be educated, everybody,
01:59that there is already a definition of the West Philippine Sea.
02:04Nasa batas na natin yan eh.
02:06So you cannot say, hindi natin alam kung saan yan.
02:09Meanwhile, the Kalayaan Palawan LGU wants the debate to be held on Pag-Asa Island
02:15and said they are open to host it.
02:18Our secretariat will be working together to conceptualize,
02:22to sit down and to explore what kind of setup that we'll be having
02:27dahil gusto ho namin na, ano ho,
02:30I mean, para po maramdaman po namin na
02:33kung pinag-de-debatihan man yung aming existence, ano ho,
02:37at least nandun po kami.
02:38It's not really a challenge, but an invitation, ano ho.
02:41It's a, kumbaga, with sincerity and wholeheartedly,
02:45we will let him feel how loving our constituents in Pag-Asa Island are.
02:53Amid the heated exchanges, the AFP said it remains unfazed
02:58and clear about its mandate to protect the West Philippine Sea,
03:02even if it means sacrificing their lives.
03:05The mere fact that we wear the uniform,
03:08we swore to protect this country from all threats,
03:12domestic and foreign.
03:14It goes without saying,
03:16if and when the ultimate sacrifice is necessary,
03:19we expect the AFP to perform its mandate,
03:21regardless of the cost.
03:22The AFP also said the public should not lose sight of the real issue
03:27and the challenges the country is facing in the West Philippine Sea.
03:32The objective of foreign malign influence and intervention
03:34is to divide Philippine society,
03:37to divide Philippine leaders,
03:40to cause us to debate among ourselves,
03:42and to forget that the bigger issue
03:44ay yung nanghimasok sa ating EEZ,
03:47ang PLA Navy, Chinese Coast Guard,
03:50and the Maritime Militia,
03:51their illegal presence.
03:52Patrick De Jesus from the National TV Network
03:56for a new and better Philippines.
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