Panayam kay AFP Spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar
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00:00 Details on the latest developments in the West Philippine Sea, we will discuss with Colonel Medel Aguilar,
00:07 the spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
00:10 Good afternoon, Colonel.
00:12 Good afternoon, Ms. Nenya and Ms. Weynga.
00:17 Good afternoon to all of our viewers.
00:20 Can you explain the latest that happened in the patrol of BRP Conrado Yap in Bajo de Bacinloc?
00:27 How many ships of the People's Liberation Army of China were spotted in the area?
00:33 BRP Conrado Yap or Patrol Ship 39 was a sovereignty patrol.
00:42 It passed through Bajo de Bacinloc.
00:45 It saw a Chinese ship, the LANA 571, and it was stopped.
00:56 That's all that happened. There were no other incidents.
01:00 Colonel Aguilar, what is the truth in the claim of China that there is a restriction given by the Naval and Air Forces of China?
01:09 The closest point that they had was about 2.7 nautical miles.
01:16 So there is no restriction and no other Chinese ship was made in our ship.
01:24 Our ship was able to complete its mission and successfully completed it.
01:29 Was there an untoward incident that happened between China and the Philippines
01:35 when the Philippine Navy patrolled the area?
01:39 There was no untoward incident because our ship was continuously sailing
01:46 and it was not obstructed by a Chinese ship.
01:49 There is a distance of 2.7 nautical miles. That's the closest point.
01:54 Sir, what is the reaction of the AFP to the statement of China that the Philippines should stop the
01:59 provocation to avoid the risk of tension?
02:05 Maybe they should stop their illegal activities in our maritime zone.
02:12 They should not be there and they should not be harassed by our fishermen.
02:16 So they should stop all their activities.
02:20 The US is saying that the transparency efforts of our country against China is an influence.
02:28 What can you say about this?
02:31 We are a free country and we have a foreign policy that is independent.
02:37 So, to me, it's a big insult that they are saying that other countries are dictating what we are doing.
02:44 Maybe they are just being hurt because many people around the world know
02:48 what mistakes they are doing.
02:51 Sir, what are the next steps of our government
02:55 in the continuous aggressive movement of China in the West Philippine Sea?
02:59 We will continue our legitimate operations. We will conduct maritime patrols.
03:05 We will continue our rotation and river supply mission in Ayunginsol.
03:10 We will do all of this to protect our fellowmen,
03:14 especially those who rely on fishing in the West Philippine Sea.
03:17 Colonel Aguilar, we have a question from the GMA News Desk.
03:21 US senators have issued a statement asking the Biden administration
03:26 about what it is going to do in terms of supporting the Philippines.
03:30 What do you think of this statement of support by the US senators?
03:34 I don't think I am capable of answering that question because it's a foreign country.
03:41 We are only in the Philippines, in the AFP.
03:44 That's what we are doing, our mission.
03:47 Sir, they have another question.
03:50 Will there be any changes to how we can conduct the resupply mission
03:54 in the sense that we can welcome other parties to join?
03:57 With several options available, we can choose any one of them.
04:03 Just to make sure that we are able to accomplish our mission,
04:06 that is to complete the rotation and river supply mission of our troops.
04:12 It is very important.
04:14 Now, as to the details of it, we cannot discuss it openly.
04:18 Sir, this is another question from the GMA News Desk.
04:21 Is the US welcome to join our resupply mission?
04:25 Our role and mission is for us to undertake.
04:29 Okay, so we do not need anybody else, any other country, including the US?
04:38 It is for our country to make sure that we fulfill our responsibility
04:43 being bestowed with the sovereign rights and jurisdiction
04:47 to ensure that we are able to harvest or to benefit from the resources therein.
04:56 We have to make sure that environmental protection programs are being implemented
05:01 and at the same time, we also have to ensure the safety of those
05:04 who navigate in that particular area.
05:06 This is our obligation.
05:08 We are independent.
05:09 Okay, Colonel, your last message to our fellow countrymen.
05:15 We are continuing our support to our government, to the programs it is implementing,
05:23 especially to national security and national interest.
05:26 We are at the strength of the Philippines, always there to do its mission.
05:34 And we will not stop.
05:36 We will not be deterred by any harassment or intimidation coming from an outside force.
05:41 So this is our commitment and we are going to do that.
05:44 Thank you very much and good afternoon to all.
05:46 Thank you very much for your time, Colonel Medel Aguilar,
05:51 the spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
05:54 Philippines.