PH tested flares capabilities in WPS —AFP chief

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Monday disclosed that the military had tested its flares in the West Philippine Sea.

“Mayroon tayo, we have flares. In fact noong Friday ako po ay sumakay sa FA 50 at nagpatrolya kami sa West Philippine Sea at tinesting natin ‘yung mga flares natin,” Brawner told Palace reporters.

(We have, we have flares. In fact, last Friday, I was on board an FA 50 and we patrolled over the West Philippine Sea and tested the flares.)

“Gumagana ‘yung mga flares natin,” he added.

(Our flares are working.)

The Philippines’ action came after an aircraft of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) was met with flares at least three times from Zamora Reef last week.

Asked if the incident in Zamora Reef was an escalation of Beijing's atrocities, Brawner answered in the affirmative. 

The AFP chief said China is also doing this against other nations such as the United States and Australia. 

''It is an escalation, definitely. Pero di lang sa atin ginagawa iyon, pati sa US ginagawa nila, pati sa Australia ginagawa nila 'yung pagrerelease ng flares. This is a form of warning the other side but then again for us this is a dangerous maneuver kasi kapag 'yung flares tumama sa atin, that is very dangerous,'' he explained. 

(They are also releasing flares to other countries including the US and Australia. This is a form of warning the other side but then again this is a dangerous maneuver because if the flares reach us, that is very dangerous.) —KG/AOL, GMA Integrated News