Priam Nepomuceno

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is augmenting its presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) with the help of other government agencies...

Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, said they are thankful to the President for heeding their recommendation not to declare a ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People's Army (CPP-NPA) during the yuletide season or even beyond.

The ScanEagle and its associated equipment, worth USD14.79 million, were acquired through the Maritime Security Initiative Program of the United States.

This, according to the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) Deputy Administrator Efren Carandang in an online press forum Wednesday.

"Right now we are developing the 'end-to-end encryption' capability because we are now also developing our cyber-capability, we have just activated AFP Cyber Group and the Major Services, the Army, Air Force, Navy have also activated their own cyber units and all of these are geared towards enhancing beefing up our cyber communications' defense and security capability," AFP chief-of-staff, Gen. Gilbert Gapay said in an online forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP).

Thanks to modern technology and a stable Wi-Fi connection, they have the means to communicate with their loved ones amid these trying times.

"The vessel is on lockdown and already underwent misting and decontamination," said Navy public affairs office chief, Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, in a message to the Philippine News Agency, adding that the lockdown was implemented on September 24.

The PN commander visited the facilities located off Malampaya, northeast Palawan on Sept. 26.

Parlade was referring to Ren Manalo, who is also known by aliases "RJ," “Ka Amir, ” "Lemon," a Gabriela official in Mindoro and member of activist fisher's group Pamalakaya, who was among the five rebels killed during the Thursday encounter with members of the PMC's Force Reconnaissance Group.

"The one who fires the first shot loses public support because in so many of our engagements, we (reiterated that) we should resolve our issues through peaceful means," Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said in an interview with reporters.

Bacordo added that the ship embodies the values exemplified by its namesake, national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

This, according to Offshore Combat Force head, Commodore Karl Decapia, as the brand-new ship safely anchored off Subic Bay on May 23, or five days after leaving the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea on May 18.