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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace reaffirms Marcos's commitment to defend Philippine maritime rights

Palace reaffirms Marcos's commitment to defend Philippine maritime rights

Published Apr 28, 2025 05:55 am

At A Glance

  • Castro said the President remains fully dedicated to protecting the country's sovereignty and sovereign rights.

Malacañang reaffirmed President Marcos’s unwavering commitment to defend Philippine maritime rights amid reports of Chinese activity near Sandy Cay in the West Philippine Sea.

sandy cay.jpeg
Personnel from the Navy, Coast Guard, and PNP Maritime Group display the Philippine flag on Sandy Cay during an inter-agency maritime operation on April 27, 2025, to counter China's claim that it seized the cay. (Courtesy of NTF-WPS)

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after China’s state media claimed that the China Coast Guard had seized control of Sandy Cay, a reef located near Pag-asa Island.

In her press briefing on Monday, April 28, the Palace Press Officer said the President remains fully dedicated to protecting the country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights.

"Asahan po natin ang wala pong alinlangang dedikasyon ng Pangulo Marcos na ipaglaban ang ating karapatan sa ating teritoryo, sa ating maritime rights, lalong-lalo na po dito sa West Philippine Sea (We can expect the President's unwavering dedication to defend our rights over our territory, our maritime rights, especially in the West Philippine Sea)," she said.

"Tuloy-tuloy pa rin po ang pagprotekta sa lahat ng karapatan ng bansa na naaayon sa international law pero may paniniguro na ito ay para sa peace and stability (We will tirelessly protect our country's rights under international law to ensure peace and stability)," she added.

Castro cited National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya, who said a routine and lawful Inter-Agency Maritime Operation (IAMO) was successfully conducted on April 27.

"Kompleto po nilang naisagawa ito at pinasisinungalingan po nila na ito po ay na-seize ng China, ayon po kay DG Jonathan Malaya (They have successfully conducted the routine and they belie that Sandy Cay was seized by China, according to Director General Malaya)," she said.

The operation involved the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police – Maritime Group.

According to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), four composite teams deployed rubber boats to Pag-asa Cay 1, Cay 2, and Cay 3, and completed their patrol without incident.

During the operation, Philippine authorities observed the "illegal presence" of the China Coast Guard vessel 5102 and seven Chinese maritime militia vessels near Cay-2 and Cay-3.

The NTF-WPS said the operation reinforces the Philippines’ commitment to uphold sovereignty and safeguard maritime domain rights in accordance with international law.

Meanwhile, Castro declined to comment on China's motives.

“We cannot speak for China. Hindi po ako makakapagsalita ng anuman kung anuman po ang adhikain, layunin, o plano ng China (We cannot speak for China. I cannot comment on whatever intentions, purposes, or plans China may have)," she said.

Related Tags

claire castro PH-China Sandy Cay West Philippine Sea
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