Marcos says PH doesn’t want war, only defensive vs external threats

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his speech at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City in this file photo taken on May 28, 2024, before flying to Brunei Darussalam for an official visit. INQUIRER.net file photo / RYAN LEAGOGO

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday reiterated that he did not want war but vowed to capacitate the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) amid an “external threat.”

Addressing troops in the Army’s 10th Infantry Division in Mawab, Davao de Oro, Marcos said the government will provide the military with the necessary resources, training, and equipment to improve its effectiveness.

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“Hindi naman tayo nakikipag-giyera kahit na kanino. Wala naman tayong gustong pasukin. Tayo ay defensive lang naman tayo at dinedepensahan lang natin ang bansa natin,” said Marcos.

(We are not seeking war with anyone, and we do not want to enter anything. We are merely defensive, and we will defend our country.)

Marcos said it was important to think about “the external threat.”

“We now have to also think about the external threat and that again is a different strategy that we will have to employ,” Marcos said.

“But we in the civilian government and together with the military commanders are doing all that we can to make sure that our men and women [in military] are completely capacitated,” he added.

The President assured the soldiers that they had a partner in the civilian government.

However, the President reiterated that he does not want war with anyone. The Philippines is merely on the defense.

“You have the capability to do the job, that is this new job that you have to face. You have the capability. You have the training. You have the equipment and that we will be able to present at least a deterrent force,” the President said.

While Marcos did not specify what this external threat was, the Philippines has been at the forefront of China’s maritime expansion in the West Philippine Sea. While the Philippines has diplomatically protested China’s tactics, the latter has doubled its claim.