Military shifts focus to external defense

MILITARY authorities in Mindanao have shifted their focus to external defense following the successful campaign against terrorism and insurgency in the region.

To boost its efforts to defend the country’s territory in Western Mindanao, the military had formulated ways to deter foreign intrusion.

Brig. Gen. Taharudin Piang Ampatuan, deputy commander for External Defense Operations of Wesmincom, met with Coast Guard Commodore

Marco Antonio Gines, commander of the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao, on January 19 to discuss mechanisms concerning territorial defense.

Shifting to external defense was part of the overall thrust of the military for 2024 to further enhance protection of the maritime domain.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard had extensively partnered on collaborative efforts to intensify operations to sustain national sovereignty and protect the country’s territory.

Ampatuan and Gines met at the Coast Guard District in Southwestern Mindanao in Zamboanga City last Friday where they discussed all options relating to the implementation of external defense operations.

Authorities said personnel from Naval forces Western Mindanao Command and Coast Guard units will be on the lookout for potential intruders on Philippine borders with the current external defense operations.

Aside from the Western Mindanao Command, similar strategies were launched by the Northern Luzon Command based in Tarlac City.

At present, naval forces under the command are complementing the efforts of the Philippine Coast Guard pushing out Chinese vessels attempting to extend its presence in the coastline off Pangasinan province.