Eastern Visayas Army commander to youth: Shun West PH Sea lies

TACLOBAN CITY — The Army’s Eastern Visayas commander has urged young people to stay informed about issues affecting the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and guard against disinformation amid renewed tensions between the Philippines and China over the West Philippine Sea.

Brig. Gen. Peter Burgonio, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, Samar, said the youth have an important role in understanding national security concerns and supporting efforts to protect the country’s territory.

“To our young people, we are facing issues concerning our country’s security and, of course, threats to our territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Burgonio said in an interview.

READ: DFA to Chinese envoy: Remark ‘provocative and unacceptable’

“I call upon them to join our government in its call for unity, to focus on whatever they are supposed to do, and to actively participate in the effort to defend our country,” he added.

Burgonio urged the youth to educate themselves about developments involving the country’s territorial claims and maritime rights, saying a better understanding of the issues would help them avoid being misled by false or misleading information.

“I call upon them to educate themselves on what is really happening so they will not be victims of disinformation,” he said.

His appeal came amid renewed diplomatic tension after Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan said China could “easily win” if it resorted to force in a confrontation, while maintaining that Beijing preferred peace.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. described the ambassador’s remarks as sounding like a threat, while the Department of Foreign Affairs objected to the statement. The government subsequently summoned the Chinese envoy to convey its protest.

READ: PH Senate reso urging DFA to declare Jing Quan persona non grata filedThe dispute between Manila and Beijing centers partly on competing claims and maritime rights in the South China Sea, including areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone that Manila calls the West Philippine Sea.

In 2016, an arbitral tribunal ruling under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea rejected China’s expansive claims to historic rights within its so-called nine-dash line where they exceeded the limits allowed under the convention. The ruling is final and binding on both parties, but China has rejected it and continues to dispute the Philippines’ position.

Meanwhile, Burgonio reminded soldiers under his command to remain nonpartisan, warning that violations of military regulations could lead to sanctions.

“So far, there have been no such cases. But if there are, those involved could be sanctioned because that is a blatant violation of our military regulations,” he said, referring to possible instances of partisanship among soldiers.

Burgonio also said the 8ID continues to observe the military chain of command and remains committed to its duties under the leadership of President Marcos, the commander-in-chief, and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

READ: China dares PH: Tag our envoy ‘persona non grata’

He added that the division was not conducting loyalty checks among its personnel, saying soldiers were expected to follow established military regulations and the chain of command./coa

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