Malacañang has assured the public that the delisted Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) member, who was accused of misrepresenting his citizenship, had no access to any maritime operations of the PCG.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro gave this assurance on Friday, Aug. 29, saying that PCGA members cannot obtain any information on the PCG's operations.

"[H]uwag pong mag-alala ang taumbayan dahil ang PCGA ay isang civil organization at kung sinuman po ang mapapasok dito kahit foreigner po, ito naman po ay paggawa lang naman ng… pagtulong, pagbibigay ng relief, pagtulong sa PCG pero wala po silang access sa anumang mga operasyon at hindi po sila sumasampa sa barko (The public should not worry because the PCGA is a civil organization, and whoever joins here, even if a foreigner, their role is only to help—providing relief and assisting the PCG but they have no access to any operations and do not board the ships)," Castro said in a Palace briefing.

"At kung anuman ang operasyon ng PCG, wala po silang maaaring malaman doon – iyon naman po ang safeguards na siniguro ng PCG (And in whatever operations the PCG conducts, they cannot obtain any information—that is the safeguard that the PCG has ensured)," Castro further said.

According to the Palace official, the PCG said that although the alleged Chinese national has been removed from the PCGA, investigation is still ongoing.

The PCG said it decided to remove the PCGA member following “verified reports” of misrepresentation of his citizenship, “which constitutes a serious breach of law, trust, and a violation of the core values upheld by the PCG and the PCGA.”