Marcos says some nations have yet to learn from effects of war

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said that there are still countries that still have yet to learn from the negative impact of war. 

According to Chino Gaston’s report in “24 Oras,” the president, however, did not mention any specific countries as he delivered his speech during a ceremony commemorating the 83rd anniversary of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor). 

“We are a little bit disappointed to see that the world—parts of the world, and many countries in the world—have yet to learn that lesson. And we hope that that peace will be brought to us soon,” said Marcos. 

Marcos also noted that the lone solution to an armed conflict is peace agreed upon by all involved parties.

"We celebrate the lessons that have been learned through this very terrible hardship and very terrible experience. The lessons that we learned are that the solution to war is not more war, and that the solution to war is only peace—an honorable peace that is arrived at by the different parties involved and having a hand and a voice in achieving that peace," the chief executive said. 

Japanese envoy Endo Kazuya was also present in the event where he emphasized that Japan made efforts towards peace, more than 80 years since World War II.

“Japan, the Philippines, and the United States, once divided by conflict, now stand united as allies and partners,” the envoy said. 

Meanwhile, US Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Ewing said that President Donald Trump’s administration will provide further defense support to the Philippines such as military exercises in Batanes and using drones over the sea. 

“We are taking bold new steps to accelerate the progress of the alliance. We will launch Exercise Balikatan later this month. We will conduct special operation forces training in Batanes, the first time in the northernmost point of the Philippines,” said Ewing. 

The Day of Valor commemorates the Fall of Bataan, which happened on April 9, 1942, to honor the thousands of Filipinos who dedicated their lives for the country’s liberty during World War II. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BM, GMA Integrated News