MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has urged the public not to panic about China’s alleged aiming of hypersonic missiles to 25 Philippine bases that US troops could use under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
According to AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., they are still verifying the information as they have yet to receive any report regarding the alleged target locations of China.
“Ang pakiusap lang po namin is that if possible yung ating mga kababayan po ay huwag mag-panic dahil sa mga information na ito,” Brawner said at a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo.
“Your Armed Forces of the Philippines, including the security sector of our country, lahat po kami ay nagtutulong-tulong upang makita natin ang tunay na sitwasyon natin,” he added.
“Wala pa ho kaming nakikita report to this effect na may 25 targets or even the locations of these 25 targets,” the AFP official further said.
Brawner also assured the public that the AFP was strengthening the country’s defense system against these potential attacks.
“Ang isa po sa pwede nating gawin ay we harden our facilities, we protect our facilities from possible missile attacks. May iba-ibang technology tayo ngayon that exist in order for us to protect ourselves from those kinds of attacks,” Brawner said.
He added: “These are the realities that we have to face, hindi lang po missile attacks, even drone attacks.”
Sen. Imee Marcos, sister of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., reportedly expressed concern over China’s alleged plan to attack 25 areas in the country, including Batanes and Ilocos, using “hypersonic missiles.”
The move is supposedly in response to the Philippines’ EDCA with the United States, which gives American forces access to Philippine military camps to enhance cooperation.
In February 2023, President Marcos granted the country’s long-standing ally access to four more Philippine military camps on top of the five existing locations under the EDCA – the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.
The first five EDCA locations were Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, and Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu./PN
