Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela on Sunday, Oct. 26, fired a pointed response to Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Z. Duterte’s recent remarks questioning the loyalty of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and criticizing the deployment of United States “Typhon” mid-range capability (MRC) missiles in the country.

In a statement, Tarriela accused Duterte of spreading “misleading narratives” that undermine the Philippines’ defense partnerships and misrepresent efforts to strengthen national security.

“Congressman Paolo Z. Duterte, your impassioned words carry the weight of a family legacy in public service—one that too often seeks to mislead Filipinos into believing that standing up against China’s bullying is wrong,” Tarriela said. “The entire country knows your family’s side stays silent on every harassment in the West Philippine Sea.”

Tarriela rejected Duterte’s insinuation that Brawner is acting as a pawn of the United States. Both the PCG and AFP are working together to uphold the country’s sovereignty, protect Filipino fishermen, and assert the Philippines’ rights within its exclusive economic zone in the WPS.

Prior to this, Brawner spoke in a radio interview over the weekend where he bared that US-made Typhon missiles, which are deployed in an unspecified location in the Philippines, “can reach mainland China.”

The Typhon MRC was first deployed in Northern Luzon in April 2024 for the Salaknib Exercise of the Philippine Army and US Army Pacific (USARPAC). It has since been transferred to a secret location after the drills were concluded.

Duterte accused Brawner of prioritizing ties with the United States over the safety of Filipinos, saying the AFP’s show of alignment with Washington could expose the country to retaliation from other nations and put Filipino lives at risk.

He also took a swipe at the military leadership’s focus on external defense, saying that the country’s real security problem lies in corruption. He pointed to alleged anomalies in government budgets and infrastructure projects, as well as the unchecked plunder of public funds. He argued that the AFP should first address graft and abuse among those in uniform and in government before lecturing the public about defending the nation.

But Tarriela responded: “Gen. Brawner did not ‘boast’ about the U.S. Typhon mid-range missile system's deployment during joint exercises; he stated a fact—its range can reach China, enhancing our interoperability and deterrence in a volatile region. He emphasized that this is not aimed at any one nation but at upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

The PCG spokesperson also took aim at Duterte’s focus on corruption as the country’s “real problem,” arguing that graft is not a recent issue and citing past scandals, including the infamous Pharmally controversy.

“Corruption did not start only now; it peaked in depravity during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Filipinos were fighting for their lives,” Tarriela told Duterte.

The Pharmally scandal erupted in 2021 after Senate investigations revealed that Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, a small and newly registered firm with only P625,000 in paid-up capital, had been awarded over P11 billion worth of government contracts to supply medical equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company was linked to individuals who had ties to former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang, a known close associate of then-President Rodrigo Duterte, the father of Rep. Duterte.

Tarriela further criticized Duterte’s “pro-China-leaning rhetoric,” calling it “an obvious defense of China, echoing the very regime that views our exclusive economic zone as its backyard.” He stressed that Filipino soldiers serve the nation, not foreign powers, and that Brawner operates under the constitution, not personal loyalties.

Tarriela’s remarks came amid rising tension over the US-deployed Typhon missile system in the Philippines, which Beijing has repeatedly opposed.

Brawner had clarified that the missile system, stationed for training exercises like Balikatan and Salaknib, is not aimed at China but enhances the AFP’s deterrence capability.

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. also defended the deployment, stressing that all efforts under the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) are guided solely by national interest and the Philippines’ sovereign prerogative.

Tarriela concluded by emphasizing the need for unity and vigilance as he urged the public to shun "divisive noise."

“The Filipino people deserve better than this divisive noise. They need leaders who unite against external bullies and internal rot, not those who weaponize misleading narratives and pro-China lines to mislead and divide us. We want peace, security, and sovereignty—but not the illusion of it, bought with denial and isolation. Who are you really serving, Congressman?” he asked Duterte.