Rappler's latest stories on Delfin Lorenzana
AFP renames key positions, military chief gets additional designation
With these changes, the defense department wants 'to instill the culture of jointness within the AFP and strictly implement the ‘force provider-force employer’ concept between the major services and the unified commands'
PH Navy christens first-ever brand new frigate, BRP Jose Rizal
Navy chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo hails the new warship as 'the great milestone and accomplishment of the defense sector in decades'
Lawmakers, groups urge Supreme Court to cure 'repressive' anti-terror law
Opposition lawmakers say no amount of assurances will ensure the law will not be abused as the measure itself is 'abusive and derogatory of human rights, civil liberties and fundamental freedoms'
Gov't suspends bringing back stranded individuals to Western, Eastern Visayas
The suspension will last for two weeks, says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
Lorenzana: China’s planned air defense zone in West PH Sea breaks rules
'It is my fervent hope that China would not proceed with this planned action for the continued peace and stability in the entire South China Sea,' says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
WATCH: Upgrades on Pag-asa Island continue as Chinese militias prowl its waters
The government inaugurates a new beaching ramp at the Philippines' main outpost in the West Philippine Sea, which is still hounded by the presence of Chinese paramilitary ships
‘Let’s not hurt China’s feelings’: Why Duterte hasn’t visited Pag-asa Island
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana explains the President’s reason for calling off planned visits to the country’s main outpost in the West Philippine Sea
On 45th year of diplomatic ties, PH shows complicated relationship with China
On the 45th anniversary of Philippines-China relations, the Duterte government says one thing and does another
Welcome to China, Vietnam: Roaming texts greet officials arriving on Pag-asa Island
Pag-asa Island lies in an area of the West Philippine Sea where signals from other claimant countries overlap, and the strongest ones win out
More plans to upgrade Pag-asa Island as Lorenzana unveils beaching ramp
The ramp allows for the delivery of large equipment and supplies in the West Philippine Sea. A new sheltered harbor will also be inaugurated on Friday, June 12.
DND investigating fake Facebook accounts – Lorenzana
'Of course, the cooperation of Facebook is needed,' says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
OFWs transiting Metro Manila to be sent home within 5 days
(UPDATED) National Task Force COVID-19 overall head Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says the government doesn't want a 'repeat of the previous months' when thousands were stuck in Metro Manila
Lorenzana welcomes suspension of VFA repeal
(UPDATED) 'In times of crises and global uncertainty, it is our belief that nations are only made stronger if we work together and focus our efforts on tackling the various challenges that confront us all,' says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
Lorenzana: Possible to put Metro Manila under GCQ on June 1
'Yung mga areas na meron pa ring mga ano, infection baka yun na lang ang ikontrol natin ng konti,' says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
Lorenzana defends buying attack helicopters: It's to fight NPA
'We would rather give [the money] to our people, kaya lang itigil niyo ang inyong armed struggle, ititigil din namin ang ganitong pagbili ng armas,' says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
PH Navy ship that caught fire returns to India, U.S. Navy to help in repairs
(UPDATED) With the BRP Ramon Alcaraz staying behind in India for repairs, the BRP Davao del Sur will sail to the Philippines without an escort, carrying 20 Filipino repatriates and a cargo of 200,000 face masks
Soldiers to help run 'mega swabbing center' in Taguig
Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will provide non-medical support to the national government's COVID-19 testing center at Enderun Colleges in Bonifacio Global City
'Offensive,' Lorenzana says about China's laser gun aimed at PH Navy ship
'Why does the Chinese Navy need to aim their target acquisition radars at our airplanes or ships?' asks Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
Lorenzana, AFP defend military chief's 'out of place' letter to Chinese envoy
Although the military chief's letter to the Chinese envoy may have been 'out of place,' Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says he sees nothing wrong with it
Duterte's martial law threat – and what he did not tell us
In his taped Friday morning public address on the coronavirus, President Duterte blasts the communist rebels again and brings up an old peace proposal they submitted long before the pandemic
More troops to be deployed in areas most hit by coronavirus
Soldiers will augment the police 'to strictly implement' physical distancing and other measures during the lockdown, says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
Lorenzana condemns alleged NPA attempt on military in Rizal
The military says it thwarted a planned attack by the New People’s Army last Saturday, but rebel leaders say the guerrillas were just on a medical mission
Defense Secretary Lorenzana tests negative for coronavirus
The head of the national task force against the pandemic says he will remain on quarantine until April 6
In this order: Lorenzana, Año, Galvez to lead task force vs coronavirus
(UPDATED) The 3 ex-generals are at the helm of government’s plan to quell the pandemic, and their positions in their new task force reflect the military rule of seniority
Lorenzana on self-quarantine after contact with virus-positive military chief
(UPDATED) The defense chief came in close contact twice with military chief General Felimon Santos Jr, who has tested positive for the coronavirus
Military chief Santos tests positive for coronavirus
(UPDATED) AFP chief General Felimon Santos Jr calls on all who had close contact with him since March 13 to go on self-quarantine, and those who met him from March 9 to 12, to take precautions and seek medical advice
What we know so far: PH 'National Action Plan' on the coronavirus outbreak
(UPDATED) The National Action Plan is considered the government's overall strategy in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak and its aftermath
Peace process chief Galvez is 'chief implementer' of gov’t policy vs coronavirus
The former military chief will be third-in-command in fighting the pandemic, after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año
Lorenzana seeks full military, police support in enforcing gov’t plan vs coronavirus
The defense chief will be on top of implementing the government's policies in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic
Military has no say on lockdown rules, will only help police enforce them – Lorenzana
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has no police powers, says the defense chief
Lorenzana denies Chinese vessels hampered Pag-asa Island construction
'Although there are always Chinese ships in the vicinity of Pag-asa, they have never in any way interfered with the rehabilitation of the island,' says the defense chief
No more military exercises with U.S. when VFA lapses – Lorenzana
Although planned joint exercises may still continue in the next 6 months, there won’t be any when the termination of the military pact takes effect, says the defense chief
No order from Duterte yet to terminate VFA – Lorenzana
'This is fake news,' says the defense secretary about Salvador Panelo's claim that the President has taken steps to instruct Foreign Secretary Locsin to send the notice of termination to the US
No lockdown in Baguio City, but PMA homecoming may still be postponed
A statement by defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana says Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered a citywide lockdown. Magalong, however, denies it.
Lorenzana favors postponing PMA alumni homecoming to avert novel coronavirus
'We deem it prudent to avoid situations where the health and safety of our cadets, PMA alumni, and their families are put at risk,' says the defense chief
DOH eyes Caballo Island, Fort Magsaysay as quarantine for OFWs from Wuhan, Hubei
Some 300 Filipinos in Wuhan and other parts of Hubei province in China are the priority in the Philippine government's repatriation plan
Lorenzana says it’s within PH right to scrap defense pact with U.S.
The defense chief he will discuss with President Duterte ‘various scenarios’ and 'future actions' that the military may undertake if and when the visiting forces agreement is terminated
Imee Marcos spreads 'tsismis': U.S. 'revokes' Lorenzana's visa too
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says he doesn't know what Senator Imee Marcos is talking about
Lorenzana urges Duterte: Declare Taal 'no man's land'
President Rodrigo Duterte does not give a categorical answer to the suggestion and ruminates instead on the warm bodies needed to prevent people from returning to the island volcano
1st batch of Filipinos from Iraq to be flown to Qatar Monday night
The Department of National Defense says at least 12 Filipinos may return to the Philippines on January 14, though this will depend on the availability of flights
PH will no longer send military 'battalions' to accompany Iraq evacuees
Officials in charge of the repatriation effort realize 'it may not be wise to send uniformed servicemen to the Middle East due to the sensitivities of the countries there'
Military to send ships, planes to evacuate Filipinos from Iraq 'ASAP'
Army and Marine troops will be deployed to secure and assist Filipinos to be repatriated from Iraq, says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
Quickie generals: The military's revolving door needs to be shut
(UPDATED) Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says the AFP ‘could have done better’ if its top commanders served for at least 3 years, instead of the usual one year or less
Joma Sison: Despite hiccups, CPP won’t back out of peace talks
Tense encounters between government forces and communist guerrillas test a fragile holiday ceasefire, but the communist rebel leader says they are no reason to drop plans for negotiations
Lorenzana wants sanctions over doctored photo of surrendered rebels
(UPDATED) The defense chief finds the act 'unacceptable' and orders the Philippine Army to investigate the touched up image supposedly showing communist guerrillas surrendering to the government
Duterte, Joma Sison can’t agree on venue for peace talks
‘Ano siya, sinusuwerte?’ says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on communist party leader Jose Maria Sison’s insistence on a foreign venue for negotiations
New Army chief Gapay officially takes command of ‘growing’ force
Gapay’s marching orders from President Rodrigo Duterte is to end the communist insurgency and for that, the Army will be recruiting 20,000 new soldiers
Lorenzana recommends lifting martial law in Mindanao
‘It’s time to go back to normal,’ the defense chief says, adding that security forces can handle lingering threats without martial law
Defense, energy departments to probe Chinese control of power lines
Can China really remotely control – and shut down – the Philippines’ electricity? Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana wants to find out.
In Manila, U.S. defense chief says ‘assert sovereign rights’ in West PH Sea
Although the US maintains it does not take sides in the sovereignty dispute between the Philippines and China, its defense chief wants smaller countries to pressure the rising power into respecting their rights
