By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
This is unprecedented — a Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jet vanished mid-operation of a tactical exercise.
Initially, no details were immediately released about the mission: not the place nor why the operation was launched under the cover of darkness. Clearly, something terribly wrong had happened. But in cases like these — especially when national security implications are at play — a degree of discretion could really be expected. Information must be carefully vetted before it is released.
Firing Line hoped for the best: that the pilots were safe and that this was not linked to foreign hostility. However, a grim reality has since set in. The wreckage was found in the Kalatungan Mountain Range in Bukidnon yesterday, along with the bodies of the two pilots.
It was revealed that the jet was providing air support to Army troops battling New People’s Army rebels when it lost contact.
Tragic as the PAF incident is, some measure of relief must be felt by netizens who speculated that something far worse had occurred and that Beijing had a hand in it.
Although unfounded conclusions and accusations against China might be harsh, what is clear about the Asian superpower is that it has fashioned itself as the single greatest external threat to Philippine security.
China’s systematic aggression in the West Philippine Sea continues to be deplorable. Just last month, 260 Chinese vessels were spotted encroaching on Philippine waters, their presence an unmistakable assertion of dominance. Harassment of Filipino fishermen continues. Hostile maneuvers against the Philippine Coast Guard persist. And let’s not forget Beijing’s relentless push for disinformation, seeking to weaken Manila from within.
While our speculations can rest for now, the insecurity brought about by this PAF tragedy demands a reexamination — no, a reaffirmation — of what Washington has repeatedly referred to as an “iron-clad” US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.
President Donald Trump’s ascension to the White House has raised some questions over just how “iron-clad” that commitment would remain in case Chinese aggression escalates.
The media spectacle of Trump shutting down President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine — America’s solid ally in the European front facing Russia — at the Oval Office very recently is not a good gauge of commitment to defense partnerships.
Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez has assured that Washington’s support remains unwavering, noting that under the Trump administration, Manila is slated to receive a substantial infusion of military aid.
But dollars and defense deals mean little if they do not translate into real deterrence. What the Philippines needs is more than just funding; it needs an explicit, immediate, and actionable show of force and unity that leaves no room for doubt.
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