Hegseth's visit undermines PH independent foreign policy —group

A think tank organization on Tuesday aired concerns regarding the upcoming visit of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to the Philippines, saying it may pose a threat to national sovereignty and security.

According to the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG), foreign military presence in the country “exacerbates tensions and increases the risk of conflict” rather than ensuring peace in the region.

“Our nation is being drawn into the geopolitical rivalries of major powers, and it is the Filipino people who stand to lose the most. Whether it be the United States, China, or Russia, foreign military forces should not dictate our national security policies or compromise our territorial integrity,” CenPEG chairperson Roland Simbulan said in a statement.

“Standing up to assert our national sovereignty is necessary when foreign interests create artificial islands in our territory, destroy our marine habitat to create a military base on our shoals, and deny our fishermen of their livelihood,” he added.

CenPEG thus called on the Philippine government to ensure national sovereignty by reducing reliance on foreign military alliances and strengthening independent defense and diplomatic strategies.

The group said the Philippine government should also reaffirm its commitment to a self-reliant and non-aligned foreign policy, one that prioritizes diplomacy, peace, and regional cooperation over foreign military engagements.

“Instead of allowing foreign military installations that do nothing to address our people's urgent needs, our government should redirect resources toward long-term development programs that uplift Filipino lives,” Simbulan said.

For its part, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Hegseth’s visit in Manila reaffirms the commitment of the US to the Philippines.

“Itong visit na ito reaffirms itong laging sinasabi ng ating ally for a long time na US, that 'yung commitment nga nila is ironclad dito sa pag-support sa atin and strengthening our alliances with them,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said.

(This visit reaffirms what our long-time ally, the US, has always said, that their commitment is ironclad in supporting us and strengthening our alliances with them.)

“So, we look at this as an opportunity, itong Balikatan exercises, which is going to be one of the biggest again, to have more activities and more exercises on live fire exercises and different activities as well,” she added.

Upon arrival in Manila, Hegseth is expected to have a meeting with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on March 28, Friday, at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

The US Defense Department earlier said that Hegseth's visit aims to "drive ongoing efforts to strengthen our alliances and partnerships toward our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific."

In the Philippines, Hegseth is also expected to “advance security objectives with Philippine leaders and meet with U.S. and Philippine forces.”—AOL, GMA Integrated News