The Department of National Defense (DND) expresses that it fulfilled its obligation to protect the the Filipinos and the Philippine territory in 2019. “With the national defense strategy as our guide, we have pursued the protection of our people and ensured our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” stated DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
Several threats to the Philippines this 2019 included the repeated voyages of Chinese vessels without permission in the territorial waters of the Philippines (resulting in the Philippines’s filing of a diplomatic protest against China), and the allegedly ramming of a Filipino boat by a Chinese fishing vessel in Recto Bank. As a result of said hit, the 22 Filipino fishermen on board the rammed boat got onto the water and floated. The crew of said Chinese vessel did abandon the 22 Filipino fishermen floating in the sea.
The defense office also enumerates some of its accomplishments. It boasts it strengthening of forces in North Batanes. The internal security undertakings against communist rebels were also augmented in compliance with the Chief Executive’s directive to end insurgency and terrorism authored by the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, and National Democratic Front. The DND, moreover, mentions the records of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with regard to dealing with the communist terrorist groups: 10,104 members capitulated, 137 were killed, and 268 were apprehended.
The national security arm, in addition, informs on the whole-of-nation approach of the state, spearheaded by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), with respect to combating armed contact with the communists. “The NTF-ELCAC institutionalizes the whole-of-nation approach to end the local communist armed conflict and places burden of security and development on the LGUs supported by all the national agencies of the government,” Lorenzana said.
Last, the DND recognized the dedication of the AFP’s armed personnel members in icing peace and order across the Philippine archipelago. “The dedication of the military and uniformed personnel of the department is manifested in the excellent accomplishments for the year, significantly contributing to the peace and stability in the whole country,” averred the DND chief.
