Dellosa’s pronouncement echoed President Aquino’s statement that the government would refocus its policy on defending the Philippines’ territorial integrity by repelling external threats now that domestic insurgency problems are being addressed on the negotiating table.
“To simplify, your AFP’s response to the present geopolitical and socio-economic situation and complexities, we shall focus on four themes: Territorial defense, the AFP Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP); disaster preparedness and the ongoing organizational reforms,” Dellosa said.
IPSP and organizational reforms were Oban’s top priorities when he assumed the top AFP post nine months ago due to mounting problems on insurgency and widespread corruption in the military as exposed by former military budget officer George Rabusa.
However, the AFP has shifted its attention towards territorial defense following China’s aggressive behavior in asserting its territorial claim over the entire West Philippine Sea which is also being claimed in whole or in part by Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.
Continue Reading at (The Philippine Star)
