AFP ready to defend PH with ‘full force’ in next 3-5 years with US help —envoy

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be ready to defend the country with full force against threats in the next three to five years with the assistance being provided by the United States, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said on Sunday (Manila time).

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, the envoy said that the Filipino soldiers are now better trained and better equipped as compared to before, considering the recently concluded 2023 Balikatan Exercise between the armed forces of the Philippines and the US.

He added that the Philippines’ defensive force is also now heightening due to the helicopters and other equipment being acquired through the military aid from the US.

“Ang tingin ko at tingin ng marami dito sa Amerika, within the next 3 to 5 years, medyo maganda na ang Armed Forces natin. They are ready to defend our country with full force,” Romualdez said.

(I think, and many also think about it here in America, that within the next 3 to 5 years, our Armed Forces will be better. They are ready to defend our country with full force.)

This year’s Balikatan marked its biggest iteration with more than 17,600 participants, including 12,200 US troops and 5,400 Philippine soldiers, according to the AFP.

It aimed to enhance cooperation, increase capabilities and improve interoperability of the two countries.

“That’s all for the benefit of our armed forces and make them a strong defensive force. That has always been the ultimate goal of this whole exercise,” Romualdez said. —KG, GMA Integrated News