Philippines AFP chief Romeo Brawner warns of info war over South China Sea, says Marines didn't fire in Senate incident

AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. told a forum in Makati that the Philippines is already facing a "political war," an "economic war" and an "informational war" linked to ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea. He said adversaries are using "gray‑zone" tactics, cyber intrusions and disinformation to test national resolve without a kinetic conflict. Brawner highlighted the armed forces’ modernization drive, including cyber defence, drones, artificial intelligence and a push for self‑reliant defence capabilities.

Later, Brawner addressed a separate incident at the Senate building, stating that the Marines deployed there did not fire any shots. He identified the Office of the Senate Armed Forces (OSAA) as the source of the gunfire and reiterated that the Marines’ role is security of key government facilities, similar to the US model. He dismissed rumors of a destabilisation attempt against the Marcos administration, affirmed that no red‑alert status had been declared, and emphasized the need for discipline and professionalism within the armed forces.