New AFP officers urged: Be steadfast in defending country

(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday urged the new officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to not waver in defending the country in the face of "evolving threats and modern warfare." In his speech during the AFP Major Services Officer Candidate Course (MS OCC) joint graduation ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, the president expressed confidence the new officers would stay true to their calling to defend the country and maintain peace. "Your graduation day today signifies the culmination of your determination, sacrifice, and hard work to overcome the challenges of becoming an officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This marks the beginning of your role to ensure the defense of our nation and the safety of all Filipinos," Marcos said. The president likewise recognized the graduates who received awards and served as inspiration to their fellow officer candidates. "May these awards encourage you to excel in your duties and become even more dedicated to serving our beloved Philippines. Your achievements and success are your contributions to nation-building," Marcos said. "Let this be your guiding principle as you step forward: In the face of evolving threats and modern warfare, innovation, technical expertise, and leadership rooted in service will be your most powerful weapons," he said. The president's statement came after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that several Chinese Navy ships were involved in incidents of harassment in Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc. On Dec. 4, China Coast Guard and naval ships fired water cannon and rammed Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc — a traditional Filipino fishing ground within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), an EEZ extends about 370 kilometers from a country's coast. On Nov. 30, a number of Chinese Navy helicopters hovered over Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, prompting the PCG to deploy its ships Teresa Magbanua and Cape Engaño to the area. Despite the acts of intimidation, the president on Tuesday said the country would continue to perform its mission and "will never be part of an escalation in the situation in the West Philippine Sea. In his speech, Marcos also reiterated the strong commitment of his administration to modernize the military. "To all the members of the AFP, be assured that this Administration remains committed to transforming our AFP into a world-class force that is a source of national pride and national security," he said. Marcos said the transformation of the AFP would begin with investments in its talents, specialists and leaders who would bridge the gap between tradition and innovation. "We will modernize your equipment, enhance your training programs, ensure that you are equipped to face challenges not just of today, but also of the future," he said. "Because together, we will build an AFP that will stand as a beacon of strength, of alliance, resilience, and technological excellence," Marcos said. The president also acknowledged the trainers, the mentors "who guided all of these graduates on their journey towards becoming officers of the major services of the AFP." This year's major services officers' candidate course graduation has 610 graduates. Of the figure, 362 cadets are from the Philippine Army-Katarakian Class 61-2024, 173 from the Philippine Air Force-Sigmandigan Class 2024, and 75 from the Philippine Navy-Mangisalakan Class 42-2024. The MS OCC is a one-year program for baccalaureate degree holders to be commissioned as officers in the Philippine Army and Philippine Air Forces as second lieutenants. It is also for the Philippine Navy as ensigns. The program includes basic combat and officer training.