President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declared on Thursday that the Philippines will not engage in any warfare despite facing external threats. His statement came during a visit to the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division in the Davao Region.
Addressing the troops, President Marcos highlighted the shift in focus from internal to external threats. “Now, I am sure that all of you are aware now that the internal threat has been reduced. We now have to also think about the external threat, and that again is a different strategy that we will have to employ,” he stated.
He emphasized the country’s defensive stance, saying, “Hindi naman tayo nakikipag-giyera kahit na kanino. Wala naman tayong gustong pasukin. Tayo ay defensive lang naman tayo at dinedepensahan lang natin ang bansa natin.”
Marcos expressed confidence in the military’s ability to handle external threats, just as they have managed internal challenges. “Kung nagawa ninyo ito dahil sa internal threat, ako’y malakas ang loob ko na kaya rin ninyong gawin pagka-dumating sa tinatawag na external threat,” he said.
The President assured that the government and military commanders are taking all necessary measures to fully equip and support the military personnel. “We are doing all that we can to make sure that our men and women [in the military] are completely capacitated,” he affirmed.
Marcos also called on the soldiers to act as peacekeepers by encouraging communist insurgents to return to the law. He stressed the importance of the military’s role in safeguarding the nation’s security and promoting the safety of its people amidst emerging threats.