The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticized the appointment of a spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines who, it said, had not been able to improve the human rights record of the military.
Malacañang said on Sunday the possible return of United States military bases to the country as stated by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin was a “mere scenario in case of an extreme emergency” arising from the Korean crisis.
Forty US aircraft, including a squadron of F/A-18 Hornet jet fighters, are flying into the Philippines starting Friday for annual joint exercises with the Philippine military, amid a North Korean threat to launch nuclear strikes against the United States and US moves to strengthen its regional defenses in the Pacific.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) distanced themselves, on Sunday, from the reported negotiations and payment of a P4-million ransom for the freedom of Australian Warren Richard Rodwell, who was released by his Abu Sayyaf captors on Saturday.
“What do you want me to do?” an exasperated President Benigno Aquino III asked during a political rally here on Wednesday, explaining his administration’s actions on the Sabah situation.
Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the Philippine and the Malaysian militaries had agreed to tighten their border patrols to prevent other “illegal entries” into each other’s territories and avoid complicating the situation in Sabah.
The Philippines will increase military presence in common maritime borders with Malaysia to prevent further entry of armed groups in Sabah, a high-ranking military official said Friday.
Military officials from Germany and Canada are in Manila this week to hold defense talks with officials of the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, amid the country’s efforts to build its defense posture in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
The Philippines may have to wait until April next year to deploy its second warship, even as tensions triggered by conflicting ownership claims over islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) are expected to escalate.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) played down, on Tuesday, rumors that alleged foreign Islamic extremists might have slipped into the country to spark violence during local protest actions against the US-made film, “Innocence of Muslims,” which triggered unrest in several Muslim countries.
Osama bin Laden is dead but the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is not letting its guard down as the world marks on Tuesday the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
MANILA, Philippines — Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa would most likely discuss with the visiting US Pacific Command chief, Admiral Samuel Locklear III, the increased Chinese intrusion in Philippine waters, the AFP spokesman said on Monday. Dellosa and select top AFP officials proceeded to their closed-door meeting with Locklear [...]
