OCTA survey: 82% willing to join Army vs. foreign aggressions

At least 8 in 10 Filipinos said they are ready and willing to defend the country and safeguard national territory, a recent survey by OCTA Research Group showed.

The fourth quarter Tugon ng Masa nationwide survey also showed the majority of Filipinos approve of the Philippine Army, which logged a +75% net trust rating and a +76% net satisfaction rating.

From 77 percent in the prior survey, the number of respondents who expressed their willingness to fight alongside the Philippine Army to defend the country against foreign aggressions rose to 82% in the latest survey.

“The Army’s efforts in addressing internal security threats to attain stable internal peace and security in municipalities, provinces, and regions increased its engagement and relevance to the public, as these contribute to the economic and developmental growth of the nation,” said Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said.

As this developed, Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said there has been significant progress in the Army’s modernization program.

“Our modernization is not just about meeting deadlines. It is about building a capable, disciplined and professional land force that the Filipino people can trust,” Galido said.

Galido earlier announced the Philippines plans to acquire the US Typhon missile system, also known as the mid-range capability (MRC) system, to protect its maritime interests, some of which overlap with China.

“It is planned to be acquired because we see its feasibility and its functionality in our concept of archipelagic defense implementation,” he said.

Developed by US firm Lockheed Martin for the US Army, the Typhon has a range of 300 miles (480 kilometers), though a longer-range version is in development.

Galido said the missile system would enable the army to “project force” outwards up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers), which is the limit of the country’s maritime entitlements under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“You have to take note of the fact that at 200 nautical miles, there is no land there and the army cannot go there,” he said.

“We need to contribute to this (defense of Philippine interests) by having this platform to be able to assist the primary major service that would focus on maritime and air domain,” Galido added.

Under that scenario, the Typhon platform “will protect our floating assets,” he said, a reference to ships of the Philippine navy, coast guard and other vessels.

Galido said Philippine Army personnel have been training on the missile system since it was left by the US after the Balikatan exercises in April.

The US Army earlier deployed the mid-range missile system in the northern Philippines earlier this year for annual joint military exercises with its longtime ally, and decided to leave it at the Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte.

Laoag airport is not among the nine sites covered by the Philippines-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. It is, however, near two EDCA sites in Cagayan province – the Camilo Osias navy base in Sta Ana and Lal-lo airport.

The missile system can fire the Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk Land Attack Missile.

As this developed, the Chinese embassy in Manila criticized what it called “unjust accusations” by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. over the planned Typhon acquisition.

Teodoro earlier admonished Beijing to stop its “saber-rattling” and “interference” in internal affairs, adding that any procurement of assets is none of China’s business.

“Such words run counter to President Marcos Jr.’s instruction to deescalate maritime tensions through dialogue and contradict both countries’ relentless diplomatic efforts to manage differences through communication and consultation,” the embassy said.