MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday denounced “misleading interpretations” surrounding the temporary deployment of the United States’ Typhon Missile System in the country.

The AFP statement came after Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte questioned the missile system’s deployment, saying it could expose the Philippines to the risk of being drawn into foreign conflicts.

The military clarified that AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. merely cited a “technical fact” about the missile system’s range and emphasized that its presence in the country is intended solely for “training and capability-building purposes,” as part of the AFP’s ongoing modernization program to strengthen national defense.

“Any insinuation that the AFP or its leadership serves foreign interests is false and undermines the integrity, professionalism, and patriotism of the institution and its members who continue to defend our sovereignty,” the AFP said.

The military stressed that all defense initiatives and partnerships are “conducted in line with the Philippines’ independent foreign policy and sovereign prerogative.”

It also urged public officials and opinion leaders to “exercise prudence and responsibility” in issuing statements to avoid fueling misinformation or distrust toward the Armed Forces.

“The AFP remains steadfast in its duty to protect the Filipino people and defend the nation’s sovereignty—serving no one but the Filipino, and protecting nothing but the Philippines,” the statement read.