Pentagon eyes refueling depot in southern Philippines —Trinidad

The United States Department of Defense is planning to establish a new fuel storage in the southern Philippines by 2028, a senior official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed Friday.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said such projects would fall under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

“The news that came out recently on a fuel storage depot in southern Philippines is just advanced information. Details of that will have to be finalized,” Trinidad told reporters.

According to him, these refueling sites would remain under Philippine ownership and control and were intended to support key military and humanitarian functions.

These facilities are designed to boost the AFP’s ability to respond to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, strengthen maritime security, and sustain troop deployments in critical areas.

“These are designed to support our response capability for HADR, maritime security, and sustain our forces deployed—not only in the West Philippine Sea, but even in the southern border,” he said.

Trinidad dismissed concerns that such facilities could make the country a target, pointing out that a lack of a credible defense posture poses a bigger threat.

“The greater risk to our security is the lack of a credible deterrence. These facilities will help allow the AFP to perform and to sustain these operations. Hence, they serve at a very strong deterrent posture,” he added.—AOL, GMA News