SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) – The Philippine Army and the Western Command (WESCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) highlighted the importance of public awareness of the escalating situation in the West Philippine Sea to counter misinformation.
Commodore Constancio Arturo Reyes, Jr. of WESCOM said, “Kailangan po tayo magkaroon ng kamalayan dahil malaki na po ang ginagawa ng ating katunggali na binabalita yung mga maling gawain na ginagawa raw natin.”
(We need to be aware because the adversary has done so much to broadcast inappropriate actions allegedly done by the Philippine Navy.)
Reyes said that intensifying public awareness of the issue is vital in rectifying these allegations.
“Ito po ay parang ang pagkakataon natin na ituwid at iparating sa buong mundo na tayo po ang naaapi at nadedehado sa sitwasyon na nangyayari,” he said.
(This is our chance to correct and tell the world that we are the ones who are at a disadvantage in the current situation.)
Consequently, the soldiers under the Philippine Army’s 203rd Infantry Brigade will also participate in the information campaign about the West Philippine Sea, particularly in isolated communities.
“Sa parte po ng 203rd Brigade, sa ngayon kina-capacitate po namin ang aming mga kasundaluhan para nang sa ganon, sila po ang mag-i-inform lalong-lalo na sa mga far-flung areas patungkol dito sa usaping ito sa West Philippine Sea,” Col. Eric Guevarra, Depuity Brigade Commander of the 203rd Infantry Brigade said.
Reyes reiterated that the issue on the West Philippine Sea involves not only the AFP but also the whole country.
“Ang atin po kasing West Philippine Sea ngayon ay kamalayan ng buong sambayanan na. Kailangan na po natin ng whole-of-nation approach. Hindi na po ito laban ng [Philippine Navy] Western Command, hindi po laban ng AFP, laban na po ito ng buong bansa ito, ng buong citizenry,” Reyes Jr. said.
(The West Philippine Sea is a matter of national awareness. We need a whole-of-nation approach. This is not the fight of the Philippine Navy Western Command, this is not the fight of the AFP, but of the country and all its citizens.)
The WESCOM assures that their team continues to deploy naval forces to protect the West Philippine Sea. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA – Occidental Mindoro)
