Balikatan exercises should include Taiwan OFW repatriation dry run —Tolentino

ANTIPOLO, Rizal — Reelectionist Senator Francis Tolentino on Friday proposed that the upcoming Balikatan exercises include rehearsals for the possible repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan amid China’s launch of live fire drills near Taipei. 

“Matagal ko na pong pino-propose ‘yong kahit table top exercises ng Balikatan i-rehearse ‘yong possible conflicts sa Taiwan strait at ‘yong sinabi ni General Brawner is very timely kasi papasok na ulit ‘yong bagong Balikatan,” Tolentino said during the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas’ press conference before their campaign rally here. 

Included in his proposal was the utilization of commercial vessels in the rehearsal for evacuation. 

“‘Yong 250,000 na OFW natin dapat siguro ‘yong rehearsal nun hindi lang ‘yong Philippine Navy vessels kundi ‘yong mga civilian commercial vessels na pwedeng tumulong and I am referring to ‘yong mga 2Go, Sulpicio o kung ano man ‘yong pumalit doon, Gotong ‘yong mga ganoong barko para ma-rehearse na,” he said. 

“Dapat ito i-rehearse na dahil may tension talaga and kailangang safe ‘yung ating mga OFWs…. Dapat makatulong din ang DOTr, ‘yong mga barko na commercial. Dapat makatulong din ang the whole DND para ‘yong pagre-rehearse, kailangang i-rehearse. Kailangan i-ensayo natin ‘yon,” he added. 

In March, the Philippine Navy announced that it would participate in a live fire exercise involving major missile systems in the Balikatan drills with the United States.

Senatorial candidate Panfilo Lacson echoed this proposal, using as reference the movie “Dunkirk” where civilian vessels augmented the evacuation operations of the military troops from France. 

He also mentioned that the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan already has an emergency evacuation plan in place which, he thinks, will be operated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

“Tama lang na maghanda 'yung Armed Forces kasi syempre may evacuation plan tayong ipapatupad. Sino ba ang magpapatupad nun, kundi yong may mga equipment at tsaka may mga capability para sa logistical plan ano para ilikas at least man lang maprotektahan ang mga kababayan doon na OFW,” he added. 

Meanwhile, former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. and ACT CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo defended AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Romeo Brawner, saying his statements concern the evacuation of Filipinos in Taiwan and not about preparing for war. 

“Sana na gets ng China ‘yon, hindi tayo sasali tayo, gigitna tayo, we don’t have the force, we don’t have the equipment. Ang sinasabi lang ng AFP na we have to be alert kasi may mga OFW’s tayo, malinaw naman ‘yong mensahe, mukhang it just taken out of context so iba ‘yong translation na nakuha ng China but we don’t mean war,” Tulfo said. 

“Klaro naman siguro ‘no malinaw ang sinabi ni General Brawner it’s all about evacuation of Filipinos there So iba na ‘yong pinaghahandaan kaysa naman mangyari at hindi tayo handa mas maganda na ‘yon because these are our fellow Filipinos na dapat naman talagang i-evacuate at tulungan natin,” Abalos added. 

Philippine military chief Brawner earlier told Filipino troops to get ready in case of an invasion of Taiwan as China launched military exercises around Taipei.

"Start planning for actions in case there is an invasion of Taiwan. So ie-extend na natin 'yung (We will extend our) sphere of operations natin because if something happens to Taiwan, inevitably we will be involved," Brawner said.

"There are 250,000 OFWs working in Taiwan and we will have to rescue them. And it will be the task of Nolcom to be at the front line of that operation," he added. 

Malacañang, through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and its press officer Usec. Claire Castro, allayed fears over the possible Taiwan “invasion” and asked Filipinos not to be alarmed following the statement of Brawner.

Reuters report stated that China's military had launched military exercises code-named "Strait Thunder-2025A" in the middle and southern areas of the Taiwan Strait.—LDF, GMA Integrated News

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