The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday expressed support for the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) initiative to invite senior government officials to observe conditions and operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), either by air or by sea.
At a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the AFP supports efforts by the PCG and other government agencies to give policymakers firsthand insight into the situation in the contested waters.
“First and foremost, the AFP supports the initiative of the Philippine Coast Guard and other government agencies to invite senior government officials to see what is out there in the West Philippine Sea either by air or by sea,” Trinidad said.
Asked about security measures in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) amid reports of heightened tensions and alleged proposals to give up the area, Trinidad said the government has strengthened its presence in the WPS.
“Government presence has been increased in the different islands in the West Philippine Sea,” he said, stressing that efforts extend beyond military deployment.
Trinidad noted that agencies under the Department of National Defense and the AFP, together with civilian agencies such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, and tourism-related offices, are actively supporting the needs of residents in the Municipality of Kalayaan.
He added that the deployment of ships, aircraft, and personnel in the WPS follows a programmed plan coordinated by the AFP Joint Headquarters and the Western Command.
Trinidad also confirmed that inviting government officials to visit islands in the WPS, including those in the KIG, remains an option.
“We support the Philippine Coast Guard and the move to invite officials. On a case-to-case basis, we invite government officials to visit the island,” he said.
