Manila, July 17 -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is being modernized not for offensive purposes but to bolster the country's defensive capabilities, an official said Thursday.

"Just because we have our modernization program does not mean we have any intention to fight another country," Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said in an interview with reporters.

"If I may paraphrase the commander-in-chief (President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) in the command conference this morning when he mentioned, and I state, we have no desire to attack anyone."

Trinidad was referring to the AFP Mid-Year Command Conference held earlier in the day at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, which was ...