Naval officers on their watch inside the bridge of the BRP Davao Del Sur as they sail the West Philippine Sea on May 18, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

PH NAVY LIVE EXERCISE

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173330112276320230519-ph-navy-brp-davao-del-sur-JC10.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Naval officers on their watch inside the bridge of the BRP Davao Del Sur as they sail the West Philippine Sea on May 18, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Naval officers on their watch inside the bridge of the BRP Davao Del Sur as they sail the West Philippine Sea on May 18, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Jose Ezpeleta believes more assets in the West Philippine Sea will help leverage Philippines&#x27; actions in the contested waterway.</p><p>Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros quizzed the Navy chief during his confirmation hearing before the Commission on Appointments on Wednesday.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/15/ezpeleta-steps-in-as-new-philippine-navy-chief-1411">Ezpeleta steps in as new Philippine Navy chief</a></div><p>&quot;Now, in conflicts that fall below the threshold of armed aggression – such as our current situation in the WPS – paano po tayo mag-e-establish ng sapat na leverage na siguruhin para meron tayong sapat na room para mag-maneuver diplomatically? Ano po kaya ang version nating mga Pilipino ng &#x27;gray zone tactics&#x27; ng Chinese government?&quot; Hontiveros said.</p><p>Ezpeleta said the country must put more assets there &quot;in order for us to leverage our actions in the West Philippine Sea.&quot;</p><p>&quot;We should continue to put more assets there. We have to support the actions of our white ships, kumbaga, our coast guard. Another is we have to enhance our maritime domain awareness. I would also like to say that building friends with our allied countries or our like-minded Navies is one way also of leveraging. We have a lot of efforts especially in our modernization let&#x27;s say for deterence purposes,&quot; Ezpeleta responded.</p><p>Hontiveros wanted to know more about the tactics but the Navy chief preferred to discuss in a closed door session.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/02/04/20/ph-navy-to-decommission-more-than-20-ships-by-2021">PH Navy to decommission more than 20 ships by 2021</a></div><p>&quot;Maraming salamat para doon. And yung gray zone tactics po na hinaharap natin sa Chinese government meron ba tayong Filipino version na pwedeng i-design? Or is that also for an executive session?&quot; Hontiveros asked.</p><p>&quot;Yes, we have efforts to at least address this issue but I would rather say it in an executive session,&quot; Ezpeleta said.</p><p>Ezpeleta also laid down his priorities as Philippine Navy head.</p><p>&quot;Una po tuloy-tuloy po nating tutukan yung modernization ng Philippine Navy. Pangalawa po again ang ating maritime domain awareness and marami na pong parating na mga modern assets so we would like also to emphasize our basing strategy to support these new assets, as well as the continuous training of our personnel, lastly po we need to increase our multilateral cooperation activities with our allied Navies,&quot; Ezpeleta said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fwIqMLDL0kw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Risa Hontiveros wanted to know more about the tactics but the Navy chief preferred to discuss in a closed door session.</p>

Sen. Risa Hontiveros wanted to know more about the tactics but the Navy chief preferred to discuss in a closed door session.

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PH Navy chief urges more assets in West Philippine Sea

PH Navy chief urges more assets in West Philippine Sea

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 04, 2024 04:37 PM PHT

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