DEFENSE CHRONICLE VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 2019 I 1

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 2019 I 1 DEFENSE CHRONICLE

2 I VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 2019 DEFENSE CHRONICLE

DEFENSE CHRONICLE

Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana enumerated the internal and

external security challenges for the Philippines during the 2019 Alumni Forum of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP). Secretary Lorenzana discussed the projected security climate and key peace and security issues for the Philippines, such as maritime and territorial disputes, terrorist activities, the effects of climate change, among others. Speaking before NDCP alumni and students as well as members of local and international media, the Defense Chief also highlighted the Defense Department’s way forward in addressing these issues. In the forum dubbed as “The National Security Outlook for the Philippines in 2019”, which was held in NDCP on February 4, 2019, Secretary Lorenzana cited the competing territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea as the most critical external security challenge for the Philippines.

DND chief outliNes NatioNal security outlook for 2019

The Defense Chief shared that the Philippine Government has already reiterated its call on China and other claimant countries to finalize and adopt a valid, binding and mutually acceptable code of conduct in the South China Sea. “While we recognize China as a bilateral partner for joint ventures and other endeavors, it is worth emphasizing that our territorial sovereignty and integrity, maritime entitlements and rights should not be compromised. We are not compromising them; we are not giving them away,” Secretary Lorenzana emphasized. “The Philippines continues to view the arbitral tribunal ruling as valid and legitimate. We have not, and we will never surrender any part of our territory.” Secretary Lorenzana said that the AFP maintains its presence within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and with its limited resources, does its best to safeguard the farthest ends of the country’s territory. “Since it is imperative to secure the national territory,

sovereignty and sovereign rights of our country’s maritime claims and entitlements, to include the West Philippine Sea and the Philippine Rise, the AFP is steadfast in performing this constitutional duty,” the Defense Chief said. In his message, Secretary Lorenzana also underscored the imminent Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) review. “Given this challenge with China, everyone must be asking why we initiated the call to review the MDT with the United States, our only treaty ally,” he said. “We believe it is time to sit down with our U.S. counterparts and revisit the terms of our alliance.” Secretary Lorenzana said that the Philippines have always valued its partnership and our deep historical ties with the U.S. He noted, however, that the two allies “must clearly define our roles and responsibilities when the need arises.”

DEFENSE CHRONICLE


Public affairs service (Pas) Department of National DefensePAS Building, Natividad Avenue Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo,

Quezon City 1110tel: (+632) 982-5679 fax: (+632) 911-7113

email: [email protected]

Editor-in-ChiefMiriam G. albao

Associate EditorNoriza s. atienza

News Editoreva B. Delos santos

ArtistJasmin Michelle l. añana

Media RelationsPrime s. Berunia

A CREDIBLE DEFENSE ORGANIZATION, A RELIABLE PARTNER IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND A STRATEGIC PLAYER IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION

Contributorsanabel t. lasaten

Dianne M. GammadPublic Affairs Service, DND

Jason Bautista Mejia , aBMc, (aBe/llB)Office of the Secretary, DND

Philippine Vetereans Affairs Office

Photographersrenato P. alba

ssg saudi s yusop Pafssg avelino a Velasco Jr PaaPinky a.

fernandezDianne M. Gammad

Support Servicessg anthony B cadiz

sgt celso P castromayorcpl Danilo G laguitan

shella D. sonoganlyn tropa

Public Affairs Offices ofarmed forces of the Philippines, Philippine

army, Philippine Navy/Philippine Marine corps, Philippine air force

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The segue from one very busy and productive

year to another happened really fast. The Department is well on its way to another busy year. While the way ahead is being paved, improvements from lessons learned are already being implemented. But what is more interesting is that milestones are set to decorate this 2019. As early as January 2019, a major milestone has marked our country’s quest for peace in Mindanao with the peaceful conduct of the plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law. The One Defense Team is once again privileged and honored to have helped pave the way for the new and better chance for peace and prosperity in Mindanao. If our collective hard work really pays off, who knows

what other major milestones can be achieved this year. There are many milestones in the offing. In the legislative arena for example, this could be the year that the ROTC implementation becomes mandatory again. Also, is this the year that we could ultimately put an end to the 50 year-old local communist armed conflict and win the peace among us Filipinos? Or is this the year that our more than half a century long Mutual Defense Treaty with America gets reviewed? This will surely be an interesting and very busy year for concerned offices. One thing is already certain at this point. For the DND as a whole, 2019 is a milestone year as the Department will be celebrating the 80th Anniversary of its foundation in November.

couNtiNG MilestoNes

Visit to the DND of students from La Salle College of Antipolo on February 12, 2019.


The moral duty for the defense and security of the Philippines is

mutually shared by the government of the Republic of the Philippines through its “defense custodian agency” -- the Department of National Defense and the citizens of the republic. This is enshrined in our National Defense Act (NDA) of 1935 that formally established the Army of the Philippines, now the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and further elaborated in the provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, mandating the able-bodied and qualified citizens of the Republic to defend and secure the nation or the state in the event of war, invasion, rebellion or in any national emergency situation. Republic Act Number 7077 or the Citizen Armed Force - Reservist Act of 1991 states that “It is the policy of the State to maintain a standing or regular military force in times of peace consonant to its adequate and actual needs for the security of the State but which can be rapidly expanded by the well-disciplined Citizen Forces in the event of war, invasion or rebellion. This

citizen or reserve force shall also assist in relief and rescue during disaster or calamities; to assist in socioeconomic development; and to assist in the operation and maintenance of essential government or private utilities in the furtherance of overall mission.” RA 7077 provides that graduates of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) basic and advance courses, who were issued orders as enlisted reservists or reserve officers or the AFP, are among those who are to be incorporated into the Reserve Force. Since its formal inception in 1935 before the outbreak of the World War II, the ROTC has been a reliable national defense resource. Its effectiveness as a national defense preparedness program was proven later at the onset of the Second World War in 1941, as then able-bodied and young Filipinos at that time responded to the call of duty to defend the country from the Japanese Imperial Army invasion. In 2002, however, the ROTC ceased to be mandatory. ROTC was turned into one of the major components under the National Service Training Program

or the NSTP through RA 9163, which amended RA 7077. ROTC, in effect, became just one of the options which tertiary level students can choose from under the NSTP. This was after some lapses in the implementation of the ROTC program, though isolated in nature, stirred an emotional public opinion against mandatory ROTC.

fortifyiNG NatioNal DefeNse aND security throuGh the reViVal of the MaNDatory rotc ProGraM

Today, President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement that he wants to reinstate the Mandatory ROTC program, is generating a growing nationwide support from various sectors of the Philippine society. A recent Pulse Asia survey showed that majority of Filipinos support the return of the ROTC in the country. Out of the 1,800 respondents surveyed, 1,440 or 80 percent agree with the implementation of the ROTC either in senior high school, in college, or in both. Only 270 respondents or 15 percent do not want the program implemented, while the remaining five percent of the respondents have no opinion on the issue.


In Congress, House Bill 8961 reviving mandatory Reserve Officers Training

Corps (ROTC) for Grades 11 and 12 students was approved on the second reading by the House of Representatives on February 6, 2019. The bill seeks to amend Republic Act No. 7077 or the Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act. The Department of National Defense welcomed the approval of the proposed bill to reinstate mandatory ROTC. “As the voice of the Filipino people, our Representatives’ votes truly reflect the collective sentiments of our people, especially the Filipino youth who will greatly benefit from the ROTC program, which aims to instill patriotism, love of country, moral and spiritual values, respect for human rights and adherence to the Constitution,” DND spokesperson Director Arsenio Andolong said in a statement. The DND also appealed to both chambers of Congress to fast track this key defense advocacy of developing the Filipino youth as our nation’s future defenders, patriots and leaders. This legislation will also strengthen our Reserve Force which is an important component of our national defense and security. Meanwhile in the Senate, a subcommittee of the Senate committee on education, arts and culture held a joint hearing on February 20, 2019, on a measure proposing the re-institutionalization of the mandatory military and civic Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Manny Pacquiao led the hearing, which was joined by DND and AFP officials led by DND Undersecretary for Defense Operations Cesar B. Yano, as well as officials from other concerned agencies.

The ROTC is an enduring national asset program, for it develops among our young professionals or citizens the needed personal discipline in order for them to be productive citizens of the country. The ROTC course also enhances the sense of patriotism or the love of country, the spirit of public service or volunteerism among our youth, thereby transforming them into able and worthy contributors to nation-building and civic-oriented endeavors at an early age. Therefore, the ROTC program hones and develops leadership and discipline among our Filipino youth. Whether or not they will enter the active military service after their ROTC training, they will carry with them the discipline and skills they acquired in the basic military training. Many of our successful national leaders acknowledge that their ROTC training helped them to succeed in their businesses, in their careers or families, and in their various endeavors in the communities where they belong. Aside from being a “good tool” for national war-fighting readiness or national defense resource, the ROTC program can also develop a pool of talented reservists, who can respond to environmental protection, nation-building efforts and socio-economic activities. This pool of reservist can also

uPDates oN the reiNstateMeNt of MaNDatory rotc

help respond to man-made or natural disasters or calamities, including the pro-active disaster resilience and mitigation efforts to prevent unnecessary loss of lives or damages to properties. Our country is facing many complex defense and security challenges such as the continuing 50-year-old communist-terrorist insurgency; the Southern Philippines separatist movements existing since the 1970s; the violent terrorism and extremism in parts of Mindanao, and the evolving national security challenge in the West Philippine Sea. A modest defense transformation and military modernization is on-going as a pro-active measure to the 21st century security and defense climate. The revival of the mandatory ROTC will give the country a boost since the new incoming reserve cadets are the future leaders, defenders and soldiers of our country. With the revival of the mandatory ROTC, and with the complementary Defense transformation programs and the modernization efforts within the AFP, our overall national defense posture will be fortified and our country’s security and stability will be strengthened.


ALLIES IN DISASTER-PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCE - Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorezana (fourth from left) and U.S. Ambassador Sung Y. Kim (fifth) strike a pose, along with officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Armed Forces after the blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the multi-purpose Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) Warehouse funded under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Photo: DND Public Affairs Service & OSEC

Ph, us iNauGurate Disaster resPoNse warehouse iN

PaMPaNGa

Secretary of National Defense Delfin N. Lorenzana and

United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim led the inauguration of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) multipurpose warehouse at Lt. Cesar Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga on January 29, 2019.

As one of the major projects under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the two countries, the HADR facility will provide access to necessary prepositioned equipment and infrastructure, thus enabling the two countries to respond

efficiently to both traditional and non-traditional defense and security challenges.

“I am delighted that we have finally undertaken the first among the many activities and projects under the EDCA,” Secretary Lorenzana said. “This HADR warehouse will surely boost the Philippines’ efforts to be a disaster-resilient nation.”

For his part, Ambassador Kim highlighted the strength of the partnership between the Philippines and the U.S. “This project illustrates not only our commitment to the U.S.- Philippine alliance, but also both countries’ dedication to peace and stability in the larger

IndoPacific region,” Ambassador Kim said.

Humanitarian assistance and disaster response is one of the main aspects of cooperation between the Philippines and the United States under EDCA, along with interoperability, capacity building, maritime security, and maritime domain awareness, among others.


Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana approved the Libingan ng mga Bayani Comprehensive Master Development

Plan (LNMB-CMDP) on January 4, 2019. The LNMB-CMDP is a five-year development program for the national military cemetery and will be jointly implemented by way of a partnership between the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). The LNMB-CMDP seeks to rehabilitate and transform LNMB into a world-class national cemetery at par with the American Cemetery which is located nearby within the Fort Bonifacio area. Specifically, it plans to strengthen the cemetery’s visual aspect, limit the clutter and unnecessary objects in the shrines, provide quiet and exclusive spaces, follow strict themes, and buffer areas in the cemetery for better access and visibility. On May 9, 2018, PVAO and BCDA signed the P100 Million supplemental Memorandum-of-Agreement for the implementation of the LNMB-

liBiNGaN NG MGa BayaNi: a worlD-class ceMetery By 2022

CMDP at the BCDA Corporate Center Boardroom in Taguig City following the Agency’s previous transfer to the BCDA of the amount of P356 Million. A projected P3.3 Billion budget is needed to fully rehabilitate and develop LNMB by 2022 and is already included in NEDA’s Rolling Infrastructure Plan. Under the agreement, the BCDA will implement the first phase of the LNMB-CMDP which includes the construction of a Dignified Cemetery Area, a Historical Theme Park, and a Memorial Shrine. The LNMB-CMDP envisions to make the LNMB hallowed grounds a living reminder of the patriotism and sacrifice of the country’s martyrs and heroes. Consistent with PVAO’s Kagitingan Road Map 2022, the LNMB will become a tourist destination where Filipino citizens, especially the youth, may derive a keen sense of their great historic past and imbibe a deep feeling of national pride from where love of country emanates.


Speaking before top officials of the Department of

National Defense (DND), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the civilian bureaus during the Joint DND-AFP Traditional New Year’s Call on January 9, 2019 in Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin R. Madrigal, Jr., vowed to end insurgency in the Philippines and leave a legacy of just and lasting peace to Filipinos. The participants in the Call included Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries and Directors of the Defense Department and its civilian bureaus, as well as Major Service Commanders, the Chiefs of AFP Unified Commands, Joint Staff and Personal Staff of the AFP.

In his remarks, Gen. Madrigal said the past year was also full of challenges and meaningful lessons. He reiterated that their “end-state for 2019 is to achieve the President’s desire to ultimately win the peace and finally put an end to local communist armed conflict.” Sec. Lorenzana supported Gen. Madrigal’s statement and said, “The DND plans to end insurgency once and for all, and we are into that now. So, this early, we have to begin thinking and planning about new approaches and strategies to effectively end any threats and security concerns in our country.” He added that “peace should be our lasting legacy to future generations of Filipinos.” Sec. Lorenzana also announced that the 2019 is

milestone year for the Department of National Defense as it celebrates its 80th year featuring relevant programs and projects that are beneficial to the people. “Sa pamamagitan ng ating maalab na pagmamahal sa bayan, sa isip, sa salita, sa puso, at sa gawa, sama-sama nating gawing tunay na makabayan ang ating tanggulan, para sa kapayapaan, at kagalingan ng mga mamamayan,” Sec. Lorenzana said. The annual DND-AFP New Year’s call is an occasion for the DND and its five bureaus to reaffirm their unity and solidarity as One Defense Team. These bureaus include the AFP, Government Arsenal, National Defense College of the Philippines, Office of Civil Defense, and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.

DND aND afP Vow

to eND iNsurGeNcy


task force PleDGes to iMProVe social reiNteGratioN ProGraM for forMer reBels

More than 20 lead and partner agencies of Task

Force Balik-Loob (TFBL) pledged to improve the government’s social reintegration program for former rebels by adding more benefits and simplifying the process of availing assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) during the monthly regular meeting held here on 27 February 2019 in Camp Aguinaldo. Undersecretary Reynaldo B. Mapagu of the Department of National Defense (DND) and Chairperson of the Task Force, presided over the meeting and announced the establishment of the official website of the Task Force with an independent domain – http://tfbalikloob.gov.ph/, hosted

by the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT). The website which was designed by the DND Management Information System Service serves as the authoritative source of information and updates on the E-CLIP. It also empowers the public to monitor the activities and give feedback to the Task Force. The Task Force Chairperson also provided guidance in resolving issues and concerns in implementing the E-CLIP. Among which are the timely submission of reports and updates on rebels who surrender to the military or to the provincial offices of government agencies or local government units to avoid duplication in availing of assistance and false representation. It was agreed that a technical working group (TWG)

will be created to be responsible in resolving matters concerning livelihood and employment, harmonizing policies and guidelines of the E-CLIP and the refinement of the database of former rebels. Usec. Mapagu expressed his gratitude to all the partner institutions and encouraged them to continue to cooperate in strengthening the task force to attain its ultimate goal of contributing to peace and development in the country. The Armed Forces of the Philippines shared that the number of communist terrorist group as of year-end 2018 has significantly dwindled and they are optimistic that continued pressure against the communist terrorists through their focused military operations will encourage more rebels to surface and abandon the armed struggle.


task force PleDGes to iMProVe social reiNteGratioN ProGraM for forMer reBels

Director Karl Caesar Rimando of the Department of the Interior and Local Government presented updates on the number former rebel beneficiaries assisted by the DILG under the E-CLIP. In addition, he mentioned that they have already turned over the funds for construction of halfway houses to 40 local government units within the country. For their part, the Department of Labor and Employment reported on DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) that grants assistance to former rebels for capacity-building on livelihood either for individual or group projects/undertakings. Hundreds of former rebels from the different regions in the Philippines have availed of the assistance that includes fishing, welding, commercial cooking, food processing, gardening, livestock raising, grocery store, rice retailing, vulcanizing, among others.

On the other hand, the Department of Trade and Industry conducts capacity-building trainings and related activities to equip former rebels with basic knowledge, skills and attitude in the setting-up of new businesses under their Livelihood Seeding Program. Assistant Secretary Sergio Yap II of the Department of Justice presented previous amnesty proclamations covering former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front. The discussion on amnesty for communist terrorists is aligned with the intents of Executive Order Number 70 signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. In closing, Chairperson Mapagu encouraged the members to continue undertaking efforts to renew the life of former rebels to being productive citizens and partners for peace and development. He also asked

to monitor the status of the construction of halfway houses; fast-track the demilitarization of surrendered firearms to belie allegations of them being used in unscrupulous activities; and to convene Livelihood and Employment Cluster to be led by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Other attendees in the meeting included representatives from lead and partner agencies of the Task Force such as the Presidential Management Staff, National Housing Authority, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Health, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Land Bank of the Philippines, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, and the Cooperative Development Authority.

DEFENSE CHRONICLE VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 2019 I 1

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