PCG hits back at Cavite lawmaker over abolition call: 'Unfair'
Published Oct 29, 2025 11:22 am
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab (File photo: PCG)
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday, Oct. 29, fired back at Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Austria Barzaga Jr. over his recent call to abolish the organization due to allegations of corruption, and for spreading fears that the agency “will become the cause of World War III” due to escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab called out the neophyte congressman for his “unfair” remarks.
“The Philippine Coast Guard respects the right of elected officials to express their views on national matters. However, recent remarks made by Congressman Francisco ‘Kiko’ Austria Barzaga Jr. are unfair to the dedicated men and women of the PCG,” she said.
She maintained that the PCG is a “professional, disciplined, and accountable government agency that operates with full transparency and under civilian oversight.”
She also noted that the PCG leadership welcomes public scrutiny, adding that any credible allegations of misconduct will be investigated in accordance with due process.
“The Command remains open to dialogue with Congressman Barzaga and all stakeholders in Congress to clarify misconceptions and strengthen cooperation toward maritime security and safety,” Cayabyab said.
Meanwhile, PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela issued a strongly-worded statement, saying Barzaga’s statements were “misleading”, “inflammatory”, and “grossly misrepresent the Philippine Coast Guard’s mandate, operations, and the very essence of our service to the Filipino people.”
“Cong. Barzaga’s statements not only distort facts but also disrespect the brave men and women of the PCG who risk their lives daily to safeguard our sovereignty and sovereign rights, ensure maritime safety, and uphold the rule of law,” Tarriela said.
He called on the public to separate truth from misinformation and support those genuinely devoted to protecting the nation’s interests.
'Alarming video'
In a video posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday, Oct. 28, Barzaga, who gained online traction for his proclivity for cats and eccentric behavior, claimed that the PCG “is inherently one of the most corrupt branches of our government” as it supposedly provides high-ranking positions to “undeserving public officials.”
He cited as examples resigned House Speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez, who is being linked to the multi-billion if not trillion-peso corruption scandal hounding the government’s flood control projects, and Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation of the Philippines Larry Gadon, who gained notoriety for his use of vulgar language.
Romualdez and Gadon hold the rank of Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral, respectively, in the PCG Auxiliary.
However, Cayabyab lectured Barzaga that the PCG and the PCGA are two distinct entities, with the latter composed of civilian volunteers who assist in community-based and humanitarian missions.
“PCGA members are not active-duty PCG officers, and their honorary ranks do not confer authority or compensation,” Cayabayab said.
WPS tension
The PCG also responded to Barzaga’s remarks that the PCG could spark World War III as he blamed the organization for escalating tensions in the WPS while supposedly interfering with China’s goal to reunify with Taiwan, which, he claimed, “has nothing to do with the Filipino people.”
Tarriela said such views are “alarmist, inaccurate, and deeply irresponsible.”
“The WPS is not an abstract geopolitical issue—it is part of our national patrimony. It encompasses vital fishing grounds, trade routes, and marine resources that sustain millions of Filipino families. The PCG’s presence there is not an act of provocation,” he said.
The PCG is mandated to uphold and protect the country’s sovereign rights under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral award which rejects China’s sweeping dash-line claims in the South China Sea, Tarriela explained.
“Our patrols and operations prevent the normalization of China’s illegal activities, protect our fishermen from harassment, and expose violations of international norms. The PCG stands resolute: our operations in the WPS are acts of patriotism and public service, carried out with professionalism, transparency, adherence to law and restraint,” he stressed.
Prior to this, Barzaga, who won in the general elections last May, also targeted another unformed service, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), as he echoed an online claim that the military was involved in P15 billion worth of ghost flood control projects, particularly under the Tatag ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (TIKAS) initiative. The military firmly rejected the accusation.
He also spread false claims on social media that President Marcos Jr. threatened to revoke the pension of soldiers for airing their grievances, a claim the AFP quickly denied as baseless.