Latest news with #Brawner
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Teodoro, Brawner slam misleading report by Chinese ‘journalists'
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Saturday slammed a malicious and misleading report from what they are Chinese intelligence agents posing as journalists at a defense conference in Singapore. In a video shared by the Armed Forces of the Philippines on social media, Teodoro said the people claiming to be 'journalists' asked him if the Philippines is a proxy of the United States at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. 'Nung ako tinanong, nakipagsagutan ako ng matagal dahil tinanong nila sa akin kung tayo daw ay proxy lang daw ng America sabi ko 'hindi, hindi tayo proxy.' Natural Pilipino tayo, pero sila magnanakaw ng teritoryo e 'di nagsagutan na kami ng nag sagutan. Hindi pa nilalabas yun pero baliktarin na naman nila,' Teodoro said. (When I was asked if the Philippines is a proxy of the US, I answered 'no' because we are Filipinos. I had an argument with them. They're the ones stealing our territory. They have yet to release a story about it and they will again twist the narrative.) Teodoro and Brawner were attending the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, an event the defense secretary noted the absence of official delegates from Beijing. 'Imbis na magpadala sila ng defense minister, nagpapadala sila ng mga bata na nagpapanggap na journalist na ahente ng intelligence nila na nagtatanong ng balagbag tapos binabaliktad ang video,' Teodoro said. (Instead of sending a defense minister, they sent kids pretending to be journalists but are actually intelligence agents who ask malicious questions then manipulate the video.) 'Yung mga yan, hindi iyan mga journalist na iyan kaya tama lang na iniwasan ni (Chief of Staff). Ako akala ko tunay na journalist. Nakipag sagutan ako dahil Pilipino, naagrabyado yung mga Pilipinas, natural sasagutin ko,' he added. (They are not real journalists so our Chief of Staff did the right thing by not answering them. I thought they were real so I argued with them because I'm a Filipino and they were maligning the Philippines, so naturally I responded.) Brawner narrated that he did not answer any queries of supposed journalists as he was proceeding to a bilateral meeting. 'Later on, naglabas sila sa WeChat, binaliktad nila ang story na umiiwas daw tayo sa mga tanong nila about West Philippine Sea at yung ang paratang nila na tayo ang iinfiltrate o tayo ang encroach, pumapasok, dun sa teritoryo nila,' Brawner said. (They released an article on WeChat, saying that the Philippines is avoiding answering questions about the West Philippine Sea and accused us of infiltrating, encroaching, and entering their territory.) Teodoro added he later saw the so-called 'journalists' again and even waved at them with a greeting, 'Kanina nakita ko itong mga bata na ito, kinawayan ko. 'Hello mga agent ng MSS (Ministry of State Security)!', hindi na lumapit. 'Yung mga iyan hindi naman tunay na journalist.' (A while ago I saw them again and waved, 'Hello MSS agents!'. They did not come near. They are not real journalists.) GMA News Online has reached out to the Chinese Embassy for comment. —RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
7 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
AFP chief Brawner: No coup shall happen, not on my watch
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Wednesday said there will be no coup d'état under his leadership amid speculations of internal unrest within the military. In a statement, Brawner reaffirmed the 'unwavering commitment' of the organization to the Constitution and the chain of command. 'As long as I serve as Chief of Staff, no coup shall happen. Not on my watch. We will not be shaken by rumor, nor outmaneuvered by noise,' he said. 'Let me reassure our countrymen that the AFP remains strong, professional, and firmly loyal to the chain of command. We are a disciplined institution, grounded in respect for the Constitution, civilian authority, and the rule of law,' he added. Brawner called out those who continue to stir discord and disinformation. He warned them of 'broader consequences' of undermining the AFP. 'To those who persist in creating instability, I offer this not as a rebuke, but as a reminder. Do not sow doubt among the very ranks that safeguard our democracy. Do not attempt to influence or mislead soldiers who serve quietly, honorably, and with steadfast loyalty to our Constitution and our country,' he said. 'Frustration is not a license to target your protectors. Attacking the Armed Forces with baseless narratives only threatens to weaken an institution that exists to defend us all,' he added. Brawner encouraged the public to be discerning and differentiate real concerns from baseless speculations, especially about public institutions and national security. 'Let us not be adversaries in the same nation we all claim to love. Let us be better stewards of our words, platforms, and influence, because patriotism is not measured by how loudly we speak, but by how wisely we choose unity over division, and nation-building over disruption,' he said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
South China Morning Post
21-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Will Philippines' second BrahMos missile system deter Beijing in the South China Sea?
The Philippines is set to receive a second battery of BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missiles from India – a move Manila hopes will bolster its coastal defences amid rising tensions in the South China Sea. However, analysts caution the deployment may carry more symbolic than strategic weight in deterring an increasingly assertive China. Advertisement The delivery was reported by The New Indian Express newspaper on Sunday, citing a defence source who said it was being shipped – unlike the first battery, which was delivered by air in April last year. The reports came weeks after Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner told the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi that Manila was seeking more missile systems to complete the integration of its air and missile defence. 'Alongside this, we will be purchasing more warships and multi-role fighter jets to build a strong and reliable deterrent force,' Brawner said. 'India is a vital partner. Beyond procurement, we are looking into joint manufacturing, technology transfer, and local production in the Philippines to support our growing defence industry.' A model of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on display at an Indian defence expo. Photo: AFP
South China Morning Post
08-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
India may not join the Squad. But its regional ties are ‘gaining momentum'
New Delhi is not expected to take up Manila's invitation to join the informal Squad alliance , according to analysts – a move that would add to pressure on Beijing in the South China Sea . But India 's efforts to expand engagement in the region are seen as 'significant'. Advertisement The Philippines wants both India and South Korea to join its Squad security partnership with the United States, Australia and Japan, which plans to conduct more maritime exercises and provide greater security assistance to the Philippines. It comes as tensions have been mounting between Manila and Beijing over their rival claims to the South China Sea, with frequent run-ins between the two sides in the strategic, resource-rich waters. Beijing and New Delhi – both facing new tariffs from Washington – have meanwhile made substantial progress in recent months to restore some normalcy in their relations. That has seen high-level meetings held, an agreement to resume direct flights between the neighbouring countries, and a potential relaxation of the trade and investment curbs India imposed on China after their border stand-off started in 2020. India has remained tight-lipped on the Squad proposal since it was revealed by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jnr last month, when he described China as a 'common enemy' of both the Philippines and India. Advertisement 'So, it's important that we collaborate together, maybe exchange intelligence,' Brawner said at the Raisina Dialogue, a security forum in New Delhi.
Al Jazeera
02-04-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
US approves sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets worth $5.58bn to Philippines
The United States has approved the potential sale of $5.58bn in F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, describing the proposed deal as supporting the security and foreign policy concerns of the US by improving the capability of a 'strategic partner'. Describing the Philippines as 'an important force for political stability' in Southeast Asia, the US State Department announced on Tuesday that the sale had been approved and could see 20 F-16 warplanes and related equipment transferred to Manila. The acquisition of the F-16s would improve 'the Philippine Air Force's ability to conduct maritime domain awareness and close air support missions and enhance its suppression of enemy air defences,' the State Department said. 'The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region,' it added. Manila's potential purchase of the F-16s comes amid months of mounting tension with Beijing and confrontations between the Philippine Navy and Chinese coastguard forces in the disputed South China Sea, where China has claimed almost complete ownership despite an international legal ruling that such an assertion has no merit. The Philippines has publicly expressed interest in acquiring F-16s from Washington since at least the administration of former Philippine President Benigno Aquino, which ended in 2016. Since then, Manila and Washington have significantly deepened their defence cooperation, particularly under the current President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, who took office in 2022 and began pushing back on Beijing's sweeping claims to the South China Sea. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said during a visit to the Philippines last week that Washington and Manila must stand 'shoulder to shoulder' against 'threats from the communist Chinese'. News of the potential sale of advanced fighter aircraft to the Philippines also comes as China on Monday and Tuesday conducted military drills around Taiwan to simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island. Beijing has promised to take the island back under its control either by force or peaceful means. Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner said his country would 'inevitably' be involved should Taiwan be invaded by China. 'Start planning for actions in case there is an invasion of Taiwan,' General Brawner told troops in northern Luzon island, without naming the potential invader. 'If something happens to Taiwan, inevitably we will be involved,' he said. Joint US-Philippine military exercises, scheduled for later this month, will be conducted in northern Luzon, the part of the Philippines nearest Taiwan, Brawner said. 'These are the areas where we perceive the possibility of an attack. I do not want to sound alarmist, but we have to prepare,' he said. In December, the Philippines angered China further when it announced the planned acquisition of the US mid-range Typhoon missile system in a push to secure its maritime interests. Beijing warned such a purchase could lead to a regional 'arms race'.
