AFP open to join crisis committee amid Middle East tensions

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it is ready to join the crisis committee, which has been ordered to be created by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. amid rising fuel prices due to Middle East tensions.

“For every crisis, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is always at the frontlines,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said at a press briefing.

Padilla said the military remains on standby to assist but there is no formal directive yet for its inclusion in the crisis committee.

She cited the military’s role during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it helped ensure the delivery of essential goods and services across the country despite movement restrictions.

Padilla assured the public that the AFP is prepared to mobilize its personnel and assets should the need arise.

“In all of these tables, there is always a seat for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to render our service,” she said.

“These are trying times but we assure that the Armed Forces of the Philippines will continue to perform its mandate and mission to protect the people and secure the state,” she added.

WPS operations

Meanwhile, AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military will continue its operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) despite implementing fuel conservation measures.

In an ambush interview at a Stratbase forum, Brawner said the military has begun cutting non-essential activities to preserve fuel, electricity, and other resources.

“Naglabas po ako ng direktiba na kailangan ay magtipid na kami sa gasolina, sa diesel, sa kuryente, sa tubig. At kailangan ay patagalin natin yung mga reserves natin dahil hindi natin alam kung anong mangyayari,” he said.

(I issued a directive that we need to save on gasoline, diesel, electricity, and water. And we need to extend our reserves because we don’t know what will happen.)

“But for example yung mga operations natin sa West Philippine Sea, tuloy-tuloy pa rin po yun. Yung pagpapatrolya natin dito sa kalawakan ng Pilipinas sa archipelago, we have to continue doing that,” he added.

(But for example, our operations in the West Philippine Sea are still ongoing. Our patrols here in the Philippine archipelago, we have to continue doing that.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News