By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday reiterated its commitment to secure the welfare of all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) regardless of where they are currently working.
Retired Navy reservist Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), stressed this when asked how the Philippines can afford to be neutral should hostilities break out between Taiwan and China.
“Any contingency across the (Taiwan) Strait short of war would already impact our OFWs. We don’t even have to be at war. We are always looking after the welfare of the Filipino people wherever they are around the world,” he said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
“The government will have to (take) appropriate actions to ensure the welfare of the Filipinos in Taiwan,” Trinidad said.
There are an estimated 180,000 to 200,000 OFWs working in Taiwan.
PH officials not carelessly picking up fights
Meanwhile, the AFP spokesperson clarified that Philippine officials are not picking up fights with China, but strive to protect the country’s sovereignty in the WPS.
“Hindi po tayo nakikipag-away sa kahit sino mang bansa sa WPS. Tayo lamang ay tumatayo sa ating karapatan na pinagkaloob ng Diyos sa atin, yung ating maritime entitlements, yung ating sovereignty and sovereign rights (We are not picking up fights with any country regarding the WPS. We are just standing up for our God-given rights, our maritime entitlements, our sovereignty and sovereign rights),” he said.
Trinidad made the statement in reaction to calls made by some sectors asking the country to tone down its stance on the issue, saying the AFP is mandated to protect the country’s sovereignty.
He said the AFP wants the next generation of Filipinos to inherit a country that is whole and free. (PNA)
Retired Navy reservist Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (PNA photo by Priam F. Nepomuceno)
