On 23 July the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief, General Romeo Brawner said “The AFP will continue to uphold our mission, ensuring that our sovereignty and territorial integrity are safeguarded and that we remain vigilant in our commitment to national defence. We will not yield and waver and will face open and covert threats to our national security with the courage of a true Filipino patriot.” This follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s tough stance on asserting Manila’s rights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in his State of the Nation Address on Monday.
