The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is consistently protecting the maritime territory of the country from the illegal presence of foreign ships particularly in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Admiral Artemio Abu, PCG Commandant, emphasized this as he defended the Coast Guard from the criticisms of Sen. Imee Marcos about the agency’s position in the WPS dispute with China and other claimant-countries, noting they are not sitting idly and doing nothing.
Abu said that they are in constant coordination with the government of China, through its embassy, every time they conduct routine patrols and receive reports about the illegal presence of foreign ships within the country’s territory.
He said the PCG submits such reports to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and these are often used as basis for the filing of diplomatic protests.
He noted that the PCG adheres to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive not to cede even a single inch of territory to any foreign power by using diplomatic means and not aggression.
“We are in good coordination even with the Ambassador of China . We have a good relationship with them,” Abu shared.
The PCG chief admitted getting “hurt” by the senator’s remarks even as he expressed readiness to personally face the Presidential sister and present to her what the Coast Guard is doing to fulfill its mandate of protecting the country’s coastline.
In a recent Senate hearing, Marcos reportedly questioned the PCG’s actions on the continuous presence of foreign ships in the country’s territory.
“I’m quite surprised that the Coast Guard is sitting on the sidelines and waiting. Iyon lang ang ginagawa niyo? Paikot-ikot lang? (Is that all you’ve got to do? You just patrol?),” Marcos was quoted as saying.
Last March 2, PCG vessel BRP Malabrigo (MRRV-4402) had been shadowed by a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel with bow number “3305” while conducting a maritime patrol operation in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal in Zambales.
This was the fourth reported close distance maneuvering of a CCG vessel to a PCG ship in Bajo de Masinloc. The first time happened on May 19, 2021 involving a CCG vessel with bow number “3301”; while the second and third incidents happened on June 1 to 2, 2021 involving CCG vessels “3301” and “3303.”