The Philippine flag will fly on all detachments occupied by the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) on Friday, Independence Day.
“It’s a tradition. It’s a way of showing that we own our occupied islands. It’s also showing that our soldiers are ready to protect our territory,” Armed Forces public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said on Thursday.
The simultaneous flag raising at 7a.m. will be held at all military camps. It will include the detachments in the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratlys). These are: Pag-asa Island (Thitu), Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal), Patag (Flat Island), Rizal Reef (Commodore), Lawak Island (Nanshan), Panata Island (Lankiam Cay), Likas Island (West York), Kota Island (Loita) and Pugad Island (Northeast Cay).
The Philippines is involved in a territorial dispute with China, which claims most of the resource-rich disputed waterway.
China has made rapid progress in its construction activities in the West Philippine Sea in recent months, raising concerns from its neighboring, as well as G7, countries—United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Japan and United States.
The military has a series of activities for Independence Day, Cabunoc says. A Musikalayaan concert is scheduled on Thursday night at Luneta Park, which will feature military bands from different branches of service.
A static display that will exhibit military capabilities will be held from June 11 to 12 in the Lapu-Lapu area of Luneta Park.
Cabunoc said they would also augment police forces in securing the Independence Day celebration.
“So far we have not monitored any armed threats but we are proactive. We are closely coordinating just in case may manggulo,” he said.
“The security situation is normal. The public has nothing to worry about, but they should report it to authorities just in case there are suspicious baggage or individuals,” he added. RC