Panayam kay Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, Spokesperson, AFP | Unang Balita
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00:00While in other news, the Armed Forces of the Philippines will continue to support President Bongbong Marcos' call for diplomacy and rules-based order to resolve the issue in the West Philippine Sea.
00:13We are joined by AFP Spokesperson Francel Margaret Padilla.
00:18Colonel Padilla, good morning to you. Welcome to Unang Balita.
00:21Good morning. And good morning to our Unang Balita.
00:26Colonel, how will you balance the President's call to maintain peace in the West Philippine Sea with your duty to defend our territory?
00:38Sir, the Armed Forces of the Philippines will continue to support President Bongbong Marcos' call for diplomacy and rules-based order to resolve the issue in the West Philippine Sea with your duty to defend our territory.
01:00The President of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is our Commander-in-Chief in his call.
01:08We believe in the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
01:16This is through diplomatic means and constructive dialogue.
01:23What are the orders of the AFP regarding the Chinese ships that are almost approaching the coastline of our mainland?
01:32Are we considering this as part of the freedom of navigation? What is the AFP's view on this?
01:40Sir, it depends on the areas and locations where these vessels are going into.
01:48These are mostly what we detected recently, our freedom of navigation.
01:54They are just passing through.
01:56But in the events that our rights are violated, we react accordingly.
02:01The situation is different.
02:03If these are distress calls, we respond to whoever is closest to us.
02:09We have our PCG and BFAR here in our naval base.
02:14We react to whoever is nearest.
02:17But at any one time, sir, we'd like to emphasize that the Philippine Navy is always on the watch, being there and conducting our patrols.
02:28What is important, sir, is that we are able to detect the presence of this.
02:33We have been modernizing.
02:35Our systems, our littoral systems are already good to detect the presence of these vessels that are entering our AEC.
02:43You mentioned the presence, Colonel.
02:45What has been your monitoring lately since the June 17 incident?
02:50What has been the increase or decrease in the presence of Chinese vessels?
02:55Be it coast guards or warships?
02:58Yes, sir.
02:59The numbers are different on a weekly basis.
03:02We report this to the media.
03:04But what we noticed there is that the number of Chinese vessels in the area is gradually decreasing.
03:11Colonel, the DFA mentioned that China and the Philippines have reached an agreement on a raw remission of the Aeongin Shoal.
03:18What can you tell us about this?
03:20Sir, with that, we heard that this is supported by the President.
03:27As our Commander-in-Chief, we also support this from the AFP.
03:31But we will give the DFA the full way to finalize the conditions of the agreement as we watch closely how it will conclude.
03:40Meanwhile, here in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we will be planning in terms of our future raw remissions as we transition to a paradigm shift.
03:49Has there been a raw remission since June 17, Colonel?
03:54Sir, not yet.
03:56From the June 17 incident, we haven't conducted a raw remission of the Aeongin Shoal.
04:01But for other features, we have seven features and two islands.
04:06All the others, we conduct regularly.
04:09Okay. In regards to the Aeongin Shoal, does this mean that when there was an agreement,
04:14it doesn't mean that the Philippine ships of China or the Philippine ships of the Philippines will be cut off?
04:20Is there such a part, the agreement?
04:23We are waiting, sir, for the finalized agreement.
04:28But as I said, we give the way to the DFA on this.
04:32We are sure, sir, that the interests of the Philippines will be put on the table.
04:37Meanwhile, sir, for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we will be continuing to do our mission and our mandate accordingly.
04:43Ma'am, in regards to the damage and medical bills of the wounded soldiers in the June 17 incident,
04:51do we have an update on whether China will pay for that?
04:55For now, sir, from the Armed Forces' point of view, we have submitted the necessary reports and the necessary cost of damages through the DND.
05:06So we are waiting, sir, for the demand of the Chinese to return the rifles as this is a government property
05:17and of course, pay for the damages incurred by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
05:21Colonel, for the time being, what is the AFP doing in the midst of the storming of Bagyong Karina and Habagat across the country?
05:31Do we have activities to aid?
05:35Our fellowmen, are there any affected?
05:38Yes, sir. One of the main missions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is to assist in the conduct of humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
05:48Therefore, all over the Philippines, sir, all our members of the Armed Forces are on the alert.
05:56We are in a red alert status.
05:58We are there to assist our fellowmen who are affected by this typhoon.
06:03We have units that are specialized in this.
06:06We have all the equipment and the training for HADR operations.
06:10You can expect that our Armed Forces are there to support those in need in this storm.
06:17AFP Spokesperson Colonel Franzel Margareth Padilla, thank you very much. Good morning to you.
06:22Good morning, sir. Finally, sir, I will just say this.
06:27While we are calming down the wave of tensions in the West Philippine Sea,
06:31let's remember that the calm water hides a deep determination.
06:37Our journey is for peace, but we defend our rights.
06:42This is our seas, our rights, and our future.
06:45Good morning sir and thank you.
06:47Thank you.
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