AFP shrugs off China's warning vs. hiked military presence in Batanes

THE PHILIPPINES has every right to boost its defense capabilities within its territories, a military official said Tuesday.

"Sa part po ng (On the part of the) AFP, that's our mandate. We have to fortify our defenses, (and) what we do, hindi na natin kailangan po yun (we do not need the approval of other countries)," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said during a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Padilla made the remark after China called out Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.'s order for increased military presence in the country's northernmost province of Batanes.

Teodoro issued the directive during his Feb. 6 visit to the military's naval detachment in Mavulis Island to inspect the ongoing construction of the Naval Forward Operating Base Mahatao in Batanes' Batan Island.

Beijing earlier warned Manila "not to play with fire" regarding the issue of Taiwan, which is just near Batanes.

In a paper distributed to members of the media, the AFP said it would be guided by the "Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept" in enhancing its capability to defend the national interest, which includes upgrades in its facilities and deployment of personnel.

Earlier, the Department of National Defense (DND) said its mandate is to secure the sovereignty of the state and integrity of the national territory as enshrined in the Constitution.

"As such, we are pursuing a Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept to address our vulnerabilities and enhance our capability to defend our national interest through certain long-term plans, which include upgrades in our facilities and deployment of personnel," it added.

The DND also emphasized that Batanes is a Philippine territory and China has no business warning the Philippines about what it does within its territory. (Priam Nepomuceno)