President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. warned on Monday that the Philippines must be prepared for more pronounced external threats due to the heightened geopolitical tension in the Indo-Pacific. Speaking to members of the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division (ID) at Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela, President Marcos emphasized the country’s proximity to Taiwan, which places it within China’s area of interest.
“The external threat now has become more pronounced, more worrisome. We have to prepare,” President Marcos told the members of the 5th ID. He added that the northern part of the Philippines must be well-prepared for any eventuality.
The President stressed that while the Philippines isn’t claiming territory, its leadership must reorient its thinking and fully commit to defending the country’s territory. He also underscored the need for the national government to engage in various efforts to maintain peace in the region, such as through continued diplomacy.
“We are not trying to take territory. We are not trying to redraw the lines of sovereign territory, the EEZ, the baseline,” he said. “Hindi natin binabago anything na kahit isang — not even one inch. Ngunit hindi tayo puwedeng pumayag na kukunin naman 'yan sa atin.”
In response to the changing geopolitical landscape and emerging new threats, the government has decided to include Cagayan as an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site through collaboration with the US, its closest military ally. According to Marcos, the 5th ID’s mission now includes territorial defense from external threats. He stressed the importance of equipping the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with the necessary equipment, training, and facilities to make it a highly capable force.
The Joint Task Force (JTF) Tala, which covers parts of Ilocos and Cagayan Valley regions and the entire Cordillera Administrative Region, supervises the 501st, 502nd, and 503rd Infantry Brigades, Joint Task Group Baguio, Philippine Air Force (PAF) Tactical Operations Group 1, and Tactical Operations Group 2.
Among the current domestic security threats are the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC) and Komiteng Rehiyon Cagayan Valley (KRCV) groups. Two provinces, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya, were declared insurgency-free on October 10, 2022, and December 18, 2023, respectively, as well as other parts of Isabela, including Ilagan City and several municipalities. Government forces have dismantled four communist terrorist group (CTG) operating units: two KRCV (September 2022); one KRCV and one Komiteng Larangan Guerilla-ICRC in December last year.