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GMA Network
20 hours ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
EDCA sites activated as relief hubs amid Crising, Habagat
The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites with the United States will now act as "relief efforts hubs" amid the impact of Tropical Cyclone Crising and the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat. In a statement on Tuesday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said he has ordered the activation of the EDCA sites as forward operating hubs for humanitarian aid. 'I have ordered our Unified Commands and Major Services to activate these sites as primary hubs for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations,' Brawner said. 'This activation includes the strategic prepositioning of our rescue assets and the consolidation of relief goods, which we are undertaking in close partnership with the DSWD to ensure a synchronized, whole-of-nation effort,' he added. Brawner made the move following the direct instruction of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. through Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. According to him, the activation of EDCA sites will speed up the delivery of assistance to the victims. US Indo-Pacific Command The AFP is coordinating with the US Indo-Pacific Command on the use of the EDCA sites for the relief efforts. 'We are in close coordination with the US Indo-Pacific Command to ensure seamless interoperability as we utilize these shared facilities and other transportation and airlift assets for this vital purpose,' Brawner said. 'The AFP is leveraging every available advantage, including our strong alliances and strategic infrastructure, to fulfill our most sacred mandate: to serve and protect our people. The use of EDCA sites is not just a logistical decision; it is a commitment to bringing aid and comfort to our kababayans with all possible speed and efficiency,' he added. Six people were reported dead due to Crising, Habagat, and the low pressure area (LPA), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Tuesday. A total of 1,266,322 persons or 362,465 families were affected by the bad weather in all regions in the country except for Eastern Visayas. Floods, landslides, collapsed structures, and tornadoes were reported in the affected areas.—VAL, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
AFP updates crisis plan for OFWs in Middle East
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is ramping up its crisis preparedness to ensure the swift evacuation of Filipinos in the Middle East, following the death of a Filipina caregiver caught in the recent Iranian missile attack on Israel. AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military has activated its contingency protocols and is closely coordinating with other government agencies in case a mass evacuation becomes necessary. 'Meron po tayong mga contingency plan. Ang tawag po natin dito ay non-combatant evacuation operation,' Brawner said. The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv confirmed the death of Leah Mosquera from Negros Occidental due to the injuries she suffered after an Iranian missile hit her apartment. Brawner emphasized that the AFP is prepared to deploy its air and naval assets, including C-130 planes and military vessels, should the government decide to repatriate Filipinos in harm's way. He also directed AFP units to update existing evacuation plans to reflect the current security landscape, which has become increasingly volatile. 'Matagal na po nating ginagawa ito. Noong nakaraang dekada, noong nagkaroon ng problema po sa Middle East, ay nagpadala tayo ng dalawang barko na sunduin 'yung mga Pilipino na gustong umuwi po sa ating bansa,' the AFP chief said.
GMA Network
08-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
AFP: Pacific naval, marine, military leaders' meeting a 'show of unity'
The symposium co-hosted by the marine corps of the Philippines and United States in Manila is a "show of unity" with 30 other nations amid tensions involving China in the West Philippine Sea, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday. "The way I look at it, instead of looking at it as a show of force, for me this is a show of unity among like-minded nations, who get together for a common value and that is to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. Now the PALS 2025 is a part of a series of activities that we conduct bilaterally with the United States and with our partners multilaterally," said AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. in a press conference during the opening of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS) 2025 in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. "For instance, we just finished the Balikatan exercise this year. Yesterday, we closed the Salaknib exercise between the PH Army and the US army, and today we opened the PALS. Again, for me, it's a show of unity," he added. The PALS 2025, which will run until July 10, is participated by senior Marine Corps officers, naval infantry, and military leaders from allied and partner nations across the Indo-Pacific. The symposium is a face-to-face engagement among participants to boost cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region's amphibious and maritime community. "This iteration is an honor for the Philippines to host it, we want to get as much as takeaway as possible. And maybe some people might interpret it that way, but I would not want to detract from the importance that the participants will bring into their exchanges," said Department of National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. This year's Balikatan annual joint military exercise between the Philippines and the US was held from April 21 to May 9. Some 17,000 troops were earlier expected to join, and engaged in a full battle exercise. When asked if such dialogues or exercises among allied nations are targeted against a certain nation, Teodoro replied: "If the shoe fits, that's their problem. If any nation is against international law, who wants to change it unilaterally, wants to transgress on the rights of another country then so be it." "I really don't know where this will end up. Insofar as I'm concerned, what is manageable to me now are stronger bilateral ties," the Philippine Defense chief added. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has refused to recognize the decision. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
The Star
16-06-2025
- General
- The Star
Philippines, Japan hold joint drills after reciprocal access agreement
MANILA: The Philippines and Japan conducted joint maritime exercises in the West Philippine Sea over the weekend, marking one of their first major joint activities after Japan's Diet ratified early this month the reciprocal access agreement (RAA) between the two countries. At about the same time, China's military held joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea, according to Tian Junli, a spokesperson for the Southern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army-Navy. The drills with Japan, called 'maritime cooperative activity (MCA),' were held on Saturday (June 14) within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and involved the Philippine Navy's newest frigate BRP Miguel Malvar and guided-missile destroyer JS Takanami (DD-110) of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). 'More than a maritime drill, the MCA underscored the operationalisation of the RAA—an accord that lays the groundwork for increased joint training, humanitarian assistance and disaster response initiatives between the AFP and JMSDF,' the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said. The drills featured antisubmarine warfare exercises, cross-deck exercises, communication check exercise, division tactics and officer of the watch manoeuvres, photo exercises and a finish exercise. Also joining the drills were the AgustaWestland 159 antisubmarine helicopter, C-208 ISR aircraft of the Philippine Air Force, search and rescue units, and Japan's SH-60K Seahawk. A video from the AFP showed the popular Japanese anime 'Gundam' playing in the background as sailors from the BRP Miguel Malvar manned the rails while sailing with JS Takanami nearby. 'With the RAA now in effect, our coordination with Japan will only grow stronger and more responsive to the complex demands of our shared security environment,' AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. was quoted as saying. The West Philippine Sea is Manila's EEZ in the South China Sea, which China claims almost entirely. Tokyo and Beijing have also repeatedly faced off around uninhabited Japanese-administered islands that Tokyo calls the Senkaku and Beijing calls the Diaoyu. Tokyo's security cooperation with Manila is expected to get a boost in the coming years following Japan's ratification of the RAA, which the Philippine Senate approved in December last year. Tian, meanwhile, criticised the Philippines for courting countries outside the region to organise 'joint patrols' and 'raised security risks' in the region. 'The theatre command forces remain on high alert, resolutely safeguarding China's national sovereignty and maritime rights,' he said in a statement on Sunday. He added that 'all military activities that seek to stir up trouble in the South China Sea or create flashpoints are fully under control.' The Philippine Embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The Philippines and the United States conducted joint maritime drills in the South China Sea for a seventh time earlier this month. Tensions continue to run high between China and the Philippines over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, a conduit for more than US$3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
GMA Network
15-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
PH, Japan forces hold 2nd Maritime Cooperative Activity in WPS
The navies of the Philippines and Japan over the weekend held the second bilateral maritime cooperative activity (MCA), following the ratification of Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) that the two countries inked in July 2024. The MCA included communication checks, anti-submarine warfare, cross-deck exercises, division tactics and officer of the watch maneuvers (DIVTACS/OOW), photo exercises, and a Finish exercise (FINEX) between the Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Participating in the recent MCA were the guided missile frigate BRP Miguel Malvar, its assigned AW159 anti-submarine helicopter, a PAF C-208 ISR aircraft, and search and rescue units. Japan deployed the destroyer JS Takanami and its embarked SH-60K Seahawk helicopter. 'This cooperative activity is more than a display of maritime capability — it is a manifestation of our enduring commitment to uphold peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific,' Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. said in a statement on Sunday. 'With the RAA now in effect, our coordination with Japan will only grow stronger and more responsive to the complex demands of our shared environment,' he added. The RAA was signed by Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbero Teodoro Jr. last July, with aims to heighten defense cooperation between the two countries in the middle of escalating tensions in the South China Sea. To recall, leaders of the Philippines, Japan, and the United States in April 2024 released a Joint Vision Statement indicating the possibility of more combined naval training and exercises, with Manila set to receive support for its defense modernization priorities. Prior to this, naval and air forces of the three countries and Australia conducted a multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea, in line with their commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF, GMA Integrated News
