Dateline Kamuning: The economic team, comprised of representatives from the Department of Finance (DOF), Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), together with the office of Senator and Defense Committee Chair Jinggoy Estrada, met with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to kick off dialogues on the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) pension system on May 25, 2023 at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Around 800 soldiers from the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and Philippine Air Force were in attendance. The government is fully committed to listening to the sentiments, concerns and issues of MUPs to be able to come up with a fiscally inclusive sustainable pension system. The economic team will continue to hold a series of dialogues with MUPs around the country, including the AFP’s Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Navy (PN), Philippine Air Force (PAF), Presidential Security...

 Dateline Kamuning:   President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday urged the military to “keep up with the times” and be more agile in fostering partnerships as the global situation becomes “more and more complicated.” The President made this remark in a speech at the oath-taking ceremony of generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Malacañang. “We, therefore, have to be more agile in our responses not only in the military area but also in diplomacy, also in geopolitical negotiations, and in our partnerships that we foster with our friends and allies around the world,” the President said.   The President sought to strengthen the country’s collaboration with various government agencies, allies, partners, and other stakeholders to safeguard and advance the country’s national interest amid tensions and challenges. The role of the AFP and its commanders, according to the President, has “certainly changed,” hence the need to cont...

Dateline Kamuning:     The Department of National Defense congratulated the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for its excellent public satisfaction rating for 2022, as reported by the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) Survey. "On behalf of the entire One Defense Team, I proudly and warmly congratulate our Armed Forces for once again garnering the unequivocal support of the Filipino people with their performance," Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. said.     In the December 2022 survey of the SWS, the AFP achieved an "excellent +76" net score for its performance, an increase of nine (9) points from the net of +67 in December 2021. Conducted with 1,200 adult respondents, the SWS survey also showed the AFP maintaining high confidence scores in addressing internal and external threats to the country's peace and stability. "Amid the complex challenges to our national security, the AFP continues to rise to the occasion and serve the people with integ...

 Dateline Kamuning:   Because of sustained military operations coupled with the whole-of-nation approach of bringing development to far-flung areas and offering benefits to surrenderees, the military believes that the New People’s Army (NPA) now has only 2,112 fighters left.   After 54 years of existence, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the communist rebel group, considered as a local terrorist organization, has suffered significant strategic losses as it lost a great number of guerrilla units, leaders and members. (PHILSTAR)  

    Dateline Kamuning:   The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Sunday said it is hopeful that the death of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria "Joma" Sison will put an end to the local communist insurgency which has largely stalled development in the countryside. "With the death of Mr. Sison, it is our hope that it will also put an end to the local communist armed conflict that claimed the lives of so many Filipinos and pushed back development in the countryside," OPAPRU chief Carlito Galvez Jr. said in a statement Sunday.     He also noted that the passing of Sison marks “the end of an era in the nation's history.” With President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s banner of unity, Galvez said the government shall vigorously carry out interventions to sustain and build on the gains the government has achieved under the peace process. The CPP earlier said the Netherlands-based Sison died a...