AFP official told to follow Palace’s gag order on West Philippine Sea issue during CA deliberations

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Cirilito Sobejana has instructed a military officer, who faced the Commission on Appointment (CA) on Wednesday, to follow Malacañang’s gag order on matters related to the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

During the CA committee on national defense deliberations on the nomination of Commodore Antonio Palces to the rank of Rear Admiral, Senator Risa Hontiveros asked the military official to disclose AFP’s new set of rules of engagement in the WPS following the enactment of China’s new Coast Guard Law.

Palces, who serves as the current deputy chief of staff for education, training, and doctrines, refused to answer the lawmaker’s question, citing the gag order which was recently issued by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Before I reported here, I was given a guidance from the chief-of-staff of the AFP.  The only authorized to speak as far as the issues in the West Philippine Sea is concerned, are the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the spokesperson, the presidential spokesperson,” Palces told the panel.

Hontiveros said she “regret, but understand” why Palces cannot disclose the new set of rules on engagement in the WPS.

She also expressed confidence in DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Sobejena on their stance on the WPS issue.

“I wish to make of record, Mr. Chair, my confidence in the secretary of Foreign Affairs as the alter-ego of the President in terms of articulating our country’s foreign policy. I regret I could not say the same about the other official mentioned by the good rear admiral,” Hontiveros said referring to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

“Also, I wish to make of record my confidence in the chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, whose recent words and actuations regarding this question of mine in the West Philippine Sea on Chinese Coast Guard presence, have been reassuring in terms of the Armed Forces’ upholding of our national sovereignty in the oceans,” she added.

In a public address last May 17, Duterte directed his Cabinet to refrain from talking about the WPS issue with anybody.

He assigned Roque as the official spokesperson on WPS-related matters.

Duterte’s directive came after former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile told him to disregard critics of his approach on the WPS issue.

Moreover, Hontiveros also lauded Palces for his citation with the bronze cross medal in 2018. This medal is for his heroism during the conduct of a special mission at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal in the WPS.

Palces was one of the 50 AFP officers whose nomination was confirmed by the CA on Wednesday.—AOL, GMA News