AFP on West PH Sea issue: All Filipinos should be ‘pro-Philippines’

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday that Filipinos should be “pro-Philippines” in matters involving the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The statement came after Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. urged government officials who sided with China’s position on the WPS to consider stepping down from their posts.

READ: West PH sea: Palace backs Teodoro’s call for pro-China officials to resign

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said, without directly referring to a particular person, that issues involving the WPS should serve as a “unifying factor” for all Filipinos, regardless of their political stance, religion, or region.

“When it comes to the West Philippine Sea, it has no color, no politics, no religion, no region, no language or dialect,” she added.

She also said the AFP expects the government to support its efforts to defend and protect the country’s sovereign rights, primarily in the WPS.

“We all should be pro-Philippines, whatever it is that will be an advantage to us as a nation. That is what we (AFP) will push for. And we expect the support of our policymakers for this,” she added. /mcm