The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will no longer accept Chinese volunteers into its auxiliary force, a spokesperson said on Saturday, July 6.

This developed as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) cautioned the national and local government from “infiltration” of hostile forces into vital sectors of the society.

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commo. Jay Tarriela said the order to refuse the acceptance of Chinese volunteers into the PCG Auxiliary (PCGA) came from no less than the coast guard commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan.

“Gaya ng sinabi ng aming Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, when he attended the congressional hearing, under his leadership, we will make sure na wala ng Chinese national na magiging part ng volunteer organization ng PCG Auxiliary (Like what our Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, said when he attended the congressional hearing, under his leadership, we will make sure that no Chinese national will be a part of any volunteer organization of the PCG Auxiliary),” Tarriela said in a press briefing. 

“As of this time, we have already delisted a number of Chinese nationals who joined the PCG Auxiliary,” he added.

Relatedly, AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. warned the public against China’s “united front works” which allegedly aim to influence different sectors of the society such as education, business, local governments, and the media.

“One way of fighting really without firing a single shot is to infiltrate into the various sectors of society, degrade the value system,” he said.

He said the aim of such work is to divide the people and start a conflict among themselves.

The PCGA serves as the volunteer civilian counterpart of the PCG. It is tasked to assist and support in carrying out the PCG's mandate of saving lives and property at sea.

In March, Gavan attended a House hearing where he revealed that the PCG delisted 36 Chinese volunteers from the PCGA due to lack of national security clearance.

Tarriela explained that the PCG Auxiliary is a volunteer organization and it is not the same with the reservist force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). 

“Ang rank na ibinibigay ay isang honorary rank na ibinibigay ng coast guard (The rank given is an honorary rank from the coast guard) and they were made to understand that they are just volunteers. This is not the same reservist rank given by the AFP because it doesn’t involve any authority or responsibility,” he said.

“We cannot say na force multiplier sila because when it comes to coast guard operations, wala naman talaga silang ginagampanan (We cannot say that they are force multipliers because when it comes to coast guard operations, they really do not assume any role),” he added.

The only way that PCGA members contribute to the PCG, according to Tarriela, is when they help in marine environmental protection, coastal clean-up, disaster search and rescue, and distribution of relief goods when disasters strike.