Manila, April 2 -- A ranking Philippine Navy (PN) official on Wednesday said that deterrence consists not only of weapon systems, but also includes the will of the people and many other factors.

PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said this when asked on the possible deterrence effect of the NMESIS (Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System) anti-ship missile system that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said would be deployed to the country during this year's iteration of the "Balikatan" exercises.

NMESIS is described as a high mobile coastal anti-ship missile with the ability to strike hostile surface vessels from land-based positions.

"Deterrence is more than just one missile system...