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Marcos lauds AFP troops in Palawan, saying the past weeks “have been nothing short of challenges and you can even say dangerous.”

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Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span dir="ltr" id="isPasted"> <span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1719114267268GQufpl6a4AAdnzg.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited military troops in Palawan on June 23, 2024, after the recent tension between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited military troops in Palawan on June 23, 2024, after the recent tension between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea. <em>Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></span></div><div><span dir="ltr">PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Sunday urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to continue defending the nation, just as he said that the Philippines &quot;would not instigate wars&quot; nor yield to any foreign power amid challenging times. <br/><br/> </span><span dir="ltr">Marcos issued the statement nearly a week since China’s latest maritime aggression during the country’s resupply mission at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, which saw a sailor lose his right thumb. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin has since categorized the incident as &quot;a misunderstanding or an accident.&quot;<br/></span><br/><span dir="ltr">&quot;We are not in the business to instigate wars—our great ambition is to provide a peaceful and prosperous life for every Filipino. This is the drum beat, this is the principle that we live by and that we march by,&quot; said Marcos during his speech at the “Talk to the Troops.”<br/></span></div><div><span dir="ltr">“We refuse to play by the rules that force us to choose sides in a great power competition. No government that truly exists in the service of the people will invite danger or harm to lives and livelihood,” he added.</span></div><div><span dir="ltr"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/22/china-only-intends-to-block-wps-resupply-tarriela-1650" id="isPasted">READ: China only intends to block WPS resupply — Tarriela</a></span></div><div><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr">History, he said, has shown that the Philippines has never bowed to any foreign power.</span></div><div><span dir="ltr">The Philippines was a colony of Spain from the late 1500s to the late 1800s, then later of the US from 1898 to 1946. The American period was broken briefly by the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II.</span></div><div><span dir="ltr">These periods of colonization and occupation saw uprisings, revolution and resistance despite the capitulation of the political elite of the Philippines.</span></div><div><span dir="ltr">“We owe to our forefathers the duty to keep the freedoms that they fought, bled, and died for; and that we presently enjoy,” Marcos said.</span></div><div><span dir="ltr">“Kailanman ay hindi tayo magpapa-supil at magpapa-apikahit na kanino man,” he said.</span></div><div><span dir="ltr">The government will settle issues “peacefully,” according to Marcos Jr.</span></div><div><span dir="ltr">This is because the Philippines, he said, is responsible and would rather continue exercising its freedoms in accordance with international law.</span></div><div><span dir="ltr"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/19/dfa-calls-out-china-over-injuries-to-troops-damage-to-boat-1158" id="isPasted">READ: DFA calls out China over injuries to troops, damage to boat</a></span></div><div><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr">“In the performance of our duties, we will not resort to the use of force or intimidation, or deliberately inflict injury or harm to anyone,” he said.</span></div><div><span dir="ltr">“But at the same time, we stand firm. Our calm and peaceful disposition should not be mistaken for acquiescence,” he said.</span></div><div><span dir="ltr">To honor their courage and bravery, the President awarded the Order of Lapu-Lapu (Rank of Kamagi) to 80 personnel from the AFP.</span></div><div><span dir="ltr"> They are part of the most recent RORE mission to BRP Sierra Madre.</span></div><div><span dir="ltr"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/19/us-to-stand-by-philippines-amid-china-s-provocative-actions-pentagon-951" id="isPasted">READ: US to stand by Philippines amid China&#x27;s &#x27;provocative&#x27; actions — Pentagon</a></span></div><div><span dir="ltr">He also awarded the Order of Lapu-Lapu (Rank of Kampilan) to Seaman First Class Underwater Operator Jeffrey Facundo “for having been seriously injured” during the RORE mission last June 17.</span></div><div><span dir="ltr"> Aside from this, the President distributed fruit baskets to the personnel in the Western Command. </span></div><div><br/></div><div><span dir="ltr"><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></span></div><div><br/></div><div><span dir="ltr"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zIobrR_0giE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></span><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines to continue defending the nation, just as he said that the Philippines "would not instigate wars" nor yield to any foreign power amid challenging times.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines to continue defending the nation, just as he said that the Philippines "would not instigate wars" nor yield to any foreign power amid challenging times.

Marcos: PH won't instigate wars nor yield to any foreign power

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Marcos: PH won't instigate wars nor yield to any foreign power

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 23, 2024 12:05 PM PHT

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China

West Philippine Sea

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