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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Standing up for PH’s sovereignty in WPS won’t result to war – PCG spox

Standing up for PH’s sovereignty in WPS won’t result to war – PCG spox

Published Apr 29, 2025 05:50 am

The government’s efforts to fight for the country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) will not end up in a war with China, a spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Tuesday, April 29.

PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said the belief that standing up for the Philippines’ sovereignty in the disputed waters would result to an armed conflict with the Asian superpower is a “pro-China narrative” and a “misinformation” proliferated by the previous Duterte administration.

“I think it is not correct to think that standing up for our sovereign rights and sovereignty in our maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea would even result to a war against China. There is nothing wrong and we have nothing to fear when it comes to standing our ground in the West Philippine Sea (WPS),” Tarriea said in a press conference in Cagayan de Oro.

The PCG official said President Marcos Jr. has already proven his commitment to not surrender even a square inch of the Philippine territory to any foreign power, a vow he made during one of his State of the Nation Addresses.

“One of the things that the Filipinos fear when it comes to our fight for the West Philippine Sea is that it might result to war. This is a pro-China narrative or misinformation. That has ben the excuse of the previous administration,” Tarriela said.

“During the time of former president [Rodrigo] Duterte, he said we could not do anything when it comes to the West Philippine Sea because in just a matter of days, [China] could invade the Philippines and a lot of people would die. But three years in the administration of President Bongbong Marcos, he has upheld our sovereignty and no war has erupted,” he added.

However, the commodore admitted that the fight for the WPS is an “intergenerational” matter that would not be solved even after the presidency of Marcos ends in 2028.

“Our fight in the West Philippine Sea is intergenerational. The next generation of Filipinos will inherit this,” he said.

As such, the PCG has been going conducting campus caravans to engage with the youth so they would understand the country’s position in the WPS and help eradicate the spread of fake news.

Tarriela met with students at the Cagayan de Oro College to answer the questions of the students about the government’s efforts in upholding the country’s rights in the WPS.

He said the PCG is working with the National Security Council (NSC) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to create a new curriculum that would include lessons on WPS.

“The government intends to make sure that our youth in different parts of the country are aware of what’s happening in the West Philippine Sea. For them to continue our fight, it is important for them to understand why they need to fight for the [WPS],” he said.

Related Tags

Jay Tarriela West Philippine Sea (WPS) Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
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