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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DND chief says Crow Valley concerns to be reviewed, assures remedies for affected residents

DND chief says Crow Valley concerns to be reviewed, assures remedies for affected residents

Published Jul 19, 2026 02:17 pm

At A Glance

  • Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the government will carefully review concerns over access restrictions at Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac, and assured that remedies will be provided if residents are found to be adversely affected.
  • Teodoro said the military reservation has long been under government control and stressed the need to balance the welfare of affected communities with the security requirements of the Armed Forces.
  • The review comes after the AFP expressed openness to dialogue with affected residents. The PAF said the restrictions are necessary to protect civilians during live-fire military exercises, including the annual Balikatan drills.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. speaks during the Ilocano Dialogue on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte on July 18, 2026. (Photo: DND)
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. speaks during the Ilocano Dialogue on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte on July 18, 2026. (Photo: DND)
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the government will carefully review the concerns surrounding access restrictions at the Col. Ernesto Ravina Air Base or Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Ilocano Dialogue on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in Batac, Ilocos Norte on Saturday, July 18, Teodoro assured that measures would be taken if residents are found to be adversely affected.
“We have to look into the whole story behind it. As far as I know, that was [Camp] O'Donnell before and it has long been a military camp. We have to examine it carefully,” he said.
Restrictions were imposed by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) around the Col. Ernesto Ravina Air Base to keep civilians away from live-fire training areas, particularly during large-scale military exercises such as the annual Balikatan drills, prompting residents and indigenous people to stage a protest.
Teodoro said the issue requires a thorough assessment because the military reservation has long been under government control. He stressed that the government must strike a balance between protecting communities and preserving military reservations.
“First of all, every place in the Philippines is for Filipinos. Second, we have to determine whether residents are really being displaced or experiencing hardship. Of course, we will provide a remedy if that is the case,” he said.
Earlier, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military remains open to dialogue with residents affected by tighter access restrictions around Crow Valley.
Brawner said the AFP is listening to the concerns of communities whose livelihoods have reportedly been affected. The military chief also said he has tasked the PAF to continue consulting affected communities and identify measures that could address their concerns.
Teodoro said Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Aristotle D. Gonzales is already engaging stakeholders to better understand the situation on the ground.
“General Gonzales is engaging because we have to see whether the residents are truly being displaced or experiencing hardship. But there are also reports that some people have extended their presence there. You can see the areas beside it, particularly in the south. So we also have to be careful because these are military reservations,” he said.
“In any case, I will leave it to General Gonzales and the Armed Forces to look into the matter,” he added.

Related Tags

DND Crow Valley PAF AFP displaced persons
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