PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reiterated his support for the modernization of assets and enhancement of defense capabilities of the country's military as tension in the disputed West Philippine Sea was not 'cooling down.'

Addressing the troops at the Clark Air Base in Pampanga on Friday, the President said his administration is 'very serious' in upgrading the capabilities, especially of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), 'as they constitute the first line of defense with the situation that we are facing now over the West Philippine Sea.'