AFP: Not giving up a single inch of territory

A senior naval official on Monday stressed that the Philippines will not give up any part of its territory — including areas in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) — as long as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remains on guard.

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine Navy’s spokesperson for the WPS, said the AFP has never backed away from its duty to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“The constitutional mandate of the AFP is to protect our national sovereignty, secure the integrity of the national territory, and look after the welfare of the Filipino people,” Trinidad said. “Throughout history, the Armed Forces has never wavered in carrying out this mandate. We’ve proven it time and again.”

He emphasized that the territory the AFP is sworn to defend is clearly defined in the Constitution — and that includes Bajo de Masinloc and the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

Guided by a policy of “not giving up one square inch” and a strategy of comprehensive archipelagic defense, Trinidad said the military will continue to carry out its mission with professionalism and patriotism.

His statement came amid reports that some groups had floated the idea of giving up the KIG — a cluster of seven islands and two reefs in the West Philippine Sea — arguing that it lies outside the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

One of those islands is Pag-asa Island, located about 280 nautical miles northwest of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, which serves as the seat of government of Kalayaan town.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. reaffirmed the PNP’s commitment to keeping the civilians on Pag-asa Island safe and secure.

He said the police continue to coordinate closely with other security agencies to protect the residents, adding that their cooperation remains strong despite the developments surrounding the area.