Tag: Lorenzana

Martial law administrator Lorenzana issues second arrest order

(Eagle News) — Authorities announced on Thursday the issuance of another warrant of arrest against individuals believed to be behind terrorist activities in Mindanao. The arrest order released by martial law administrator and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is the second to be issued after martial law was declared in the southern part of the Philippines. Gilbert Gapay, martial law spokesperson for Eastern Mindanao, said the second arrest order was six pages long. Gapay did not elaborate about the […]

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8 foreigners fighting with terrorists in Marawi killed, says Defense Chief Lorenzana

(Eagle News)– Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday (June 1) confirmed that eight foreign militants fighting with Maute group were already killed by government troops in Marawi City. Two each were from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Indonesia, while one was from Yemen and another from Chechnya, a federal subject of Russia. The foreigners are suspected to be members of the Islamic State (IS). Lorenzana added that the foreigners might have entered the country via sea travel coming […]

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AFP to investigate gov’t airstrike that killed 11 soldiers

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will conduct an investigation into the bungled government airstrike in Marawi City that resulted in the death of 11 soldiers and injured several others. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ordered the investigation, which will be headed by AFP Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año. The AFP has already recovered the bodies of the dead soldiers. The government’s failed airstrike was part of the […]

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Defense chief Lorenzana: Martial law proclamation in Mindanao “imperative”

(Eagle News) — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana emphasized on Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte’s imposition of martial law in Mindanao was “imperative.” Lorenzana issued the statement after minority bloc senators noted the defense secretary had said in a May 29 executive session that security forces could contain the Maute group in Marawi even without the martial law proclamation. The senators made the revelation in arguing for the convening of a joint session of Congress that […]

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China denies exploring Benham Rise, but confirms ships did pass through area

  The Chinese Embassy on Saturday denied it intentionally sailed to Benham Rise in Eastern part of Luzon off Aurora and Quezon province, saying they simply passed by international sea. In their website, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said their ships had the right of freedom of navigation in those waters, and its research ships did pass through seas northeast of Luzon Island last year. “After checking with relevant department, China’s relevant ocean research […]

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Malacanang “concerned” about Chinese ships’ presence in Benham Rise

    (Eagle News) — Malacañang said it was concerned with the reported presence of Chinese survey ships at Benham Rise in the Pacific and Reed Bank in the South China Sea. “We are concerned about the presence of a Chinese ship in Benham Rise, which has been recognized by the United Nations as part of the Philippines,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.. The Department of National Defense has already notified the […]

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Chinese survey ships entering Philippine territory: Manila

    MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — Chinese survey ships have been entering waters recognized by the United Nations as Philippine territory, Manila’s defense secretary said Thursday, in a move he described as “very concerning”. Delfin Lorenzana said the ships were seen last year near Benham Rise — a Philippine territory 250 kilometres (155 miles) off the east coast of the main island of Luzon — as well as Reed Bank in the South China Sea, […]

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AFP to start going after NPA rebels – DND chief Lorenzana

  (Eagle News) – Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the government is ready to go after and hunt down the New People’s Army rebels following President Duterte’s directive to scrap peace talks with communist leaders. Lorenzana clarified that there was no “all-out war” but normal military operations to be conducted against the NPA, the armed component of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), especially after their action of killing unarmed soldiers on February 1, […]

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DND chief says NPA ceasefire termination won’t affect AFP

  (Eagle News) — Defense Secretary Delfin Delfin Lorenzana said the ceasefire termination declared by the New People’s Army (NPA) would have “no effect” at all on the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In a statement, Lorenzana also said the NPA rebels themselves, even during the ceasefire, continued their ambushes and kidnapping of soldiers. “If the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army) will terminate or stop their unilateral ceasefire it is up to […]

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China offers guns worth $14 mn to Philippines to help fight drugs and terrorism

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — China has offered the Philippines guns and equipment worth $14 million to wage its war on drugs and combat terrorism, Manila’s defense minister said Tuesday, as ties improve under President Rodrigo Duterte. Beijing has publicly backed the controversial campaign, which has left 5,300 people dead in less than six months and drawn criticism from the United Nations and the United States, Manila’s ally. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the latest offer […]

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DND chief Lorenzana: We can live without US aid

(Reuters)– The United States-Philippines ties are going through “bumps on the road” and the Armed Forces of the Philippines could manage if treaty ally the United States were to withdraw aid, Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana said Friday. The Philippines intended to buy arms from China and Russia and there had been no adverse reaction from within the military to President Rodrigo Duterte’s vows to scale back defense ties with the United States, Lorenzana said. Lorenzana’s […]

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DU30 eyes Gibo for Defense if Lorenzana leaves for ambassadorship

(Eagle News)– President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday whiffs his plans on former Defense head Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro to take charge once incumbent Department of Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana be appointed as ambassador. Duterte divulged the idea of Lorenzana taking a seat as ambassador on Monday during the oath-taking of Armed Forces chief General Ricardo Visaya and other appointed generals and flag officers. “I hope to get one pero kung hindi pumayag, I tell you now, […]

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