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NewsTranscript
00:00 for the discussion of the installation of floating barriers of China in Bajo de Masinloc
00:05 and the escape of the Bahuras in some parts of the West Philippine Sea.
00:08 We will be joined by Defense Secretary Gilbert Guibo Teodoro.
00:11 Good morning, Secretary. This is Maris.
00:15 Good morning, Maris.
00:16 Yes. Secretary, following the incidents in Bajo de Masinloc and the disappearance of coral reefs,
00:22 will the Philippine Navy join the patrol of the Philippine Coast Guard and BFAR in our territory in the West Philippine Sea, Secretary?
00:32 No. The operations of the Coast Guard are enough, in our opinion, to assert our sovereign rights in that area,
00:42 especially because fishermen and fisherfolk are affected.
00:48 So we have no request to change the existing arrangements.
00:57 Even if there are Chinese militia that are patrolling the area, the Philippine Navy or the armed forces should not be in the way?
01:10 We will talk to the National Security Council and we will discuss that. I have no authority to say if it is necessary or not.
01:22 The National Security Council and the President are the only ones who have the power to say.
01:30 We understand that, Secretary.
01:33 These incidents are not new and China has become more aggressive in their invasion of our Coast Guard and fishermen.
01:42 We saw the videos recently.
01:44 What will the Department of National Defense do to protect the rights of our country in the West Philippine Sea in coordination with the NSC?
01:53 Well, like our role is to have a credible deter force. That's why we are speeding up our efforts to deter any territorial incursions and illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea.
02:18 Not only in the West Philippine Sea, but in other parts of our ocean. That's the role of the Department of National Defense.
02:26 And how exactly do we plan to do this, Secretary?
02:28 We will see our representatives in Congress, capability upgrades and modernization and alliance with other countries.
02:39 For that, we will have rules-based international order and international law. Because what China is doing is a violation of international law.
02:49 Secretary, because of China's aggressive actions, will EDCAS sites in the Philippines and America continue to add?
02:56 We haven't talked about that yet. But we will definitely add Philippine bases.
03:02 Are there areas already?
03:06 In the Philippine bases?
03:07 Yes.
03:08 They are being determined now. But the instruction to our armed forces is to plan for the end of our archipelagic baselines as much as possible.
03:22 This will be a joint post guard, Philippine Navy or Philippine Air Force and civilian sites.
03:29 How soon?
03:30 Because we need to protect our baselines.
03:34 How soon are we expecting this to happen, Secretary?
03:37 The groundwork needs to be started by next year. The groundwork, the plan now is the groundwork.
03:44 Because of course, we will get land and we will make sure that the land is adequate or adequate to our purpose.
03:53 Then we will arrange the papers on the title of this so it will be sustainable.
03:59 And the infrastructure development will continue after that.
04:04 Secretary, you also plan to revise the AFP reserve program. Is the ROTC included here, Secretary?
04:12 The ROTC is not included but the ROTC should be fused with our plans to be revised.
04:21 Because maybe next year our strategic plan will be revised, maybe the current reserve force structure is not adequate to be revised and more technological that we need to have credible deterrence and reserve force.
04:45 Secretary, go ahead.
04:47 The second important thing in the ROTC is that it has special skills because they are college degree majors of specific studies.
04:59 That is what we need here in the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces to expand our capabilities.
05:07 Is joining patrol missions in disputed territories part of their training?
05:16 It's in the AFP if it's included.
05:22 As long as it's mine, we can collect the special, especially technical skills that they have to complement our armed forces.
05:33 Secretary, in terms of peace talks, will the peace talks of the government, CPP and PANDF continue under the administration of Marcos?
05:42 I have no news. Like I said, there is an amnesty that will be issued, like our President said, in the zone. That's what we're waiting for.
05:58 Secretary, thank you very much for the information you gave us and for the time you gave us this morning.
06:05 Thank you, Maris. Thank you.
06:07 Again, Secretary Gibotiodoro of the Department of National Defense. Good morning to you, Secretary.
06:14 [music]