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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH appoints first maritime affairs spox

PH appoints first maritime affairs spox

Published Feb 9, 2026 04:59 pm
Deputy Assistant Secretary Rogelio Villanueva, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman for Maritime Affairs
Deputy Assistant Secretary Rogelio Villanueva, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman for Maritime Affairs
The Philippine government has installed its first-ever spokesperson for maritime affairs to ensure sea disputes are managed diplomatically in public amid the reported appeal of the country's top diplomat to tone down South China Sea rhetoric being made by Filipino officials.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Monday, Feb. 9, the appointment of Deputy Assistant Secretary Rogelio Villanueva as the DFA spokesman for maritime affairs in response to President Marcos' order to bolster the agency's "central role in state-to-state engagement and to prioritize diplomacy in advancing the national interest."
His assumption for the post came as a surprise, especially for the Philippine media covering the diplomatic corps.
It followed new Senate Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Erwin Tulfo's news that DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro supposedly appealed to lawmakers and other Filipino officials to tone down their rhetoric against China to avoid risking progress on the current negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).
Several Philippine officials and Chinese diplomats have engaged in multiple word wars since late December, with no sign of stopping.
"We want to give maritime affairs the importance it deserves—how we advance Philippine interests in the maritime domain," Angelica Escalona, DFA spokesperson, said, explaining the need for the role.
"We always work with other Philippine government agencies under a whole-of-nation approach," she added.
In a short media statement on Monday, shortly after the surprise announcement of his appointment, Villanueva stressed the DFA's role in handling sea disputes in the past not only successfully but also successfully.
"The DFA has consistently led efforts to uphold Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction while calling out infringements—from promoting the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, to issuing comprehensive protest against illegal activities in our maritime domain, to delivering direct statements at the highest international levels against rule of law violations," he said.
"The DFA remains the Philippines' authoritative voice on regional and international issues guided by sober assessment of facts on the ground," he added.
Villanueva also cited Manila's approach in upholding its sovereignty while negotiating sea disputes, particularly with Beijing.
It was done through employing "four core dynamics" of maritime statecraft: dynamic commitment to international law; proactive efforts to keep bilateral and regional channels open; and pursue common ground, active leveraging of alliances, partnerships and multilateralism, and energetic support for domestic capacity building through targeted foreign engagements.
"This framework has advanced our West Philippine Sea objectives... This demonstrates how effective and sustained diplomacy manages on the ground risk while enabling routine activities, fostering innovative solutions and positive outcomes," he said

Villanueva maintained that effective diplomacy opened pathways for cooperation in critical areas, which were all aimed at regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
"Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s guidance as chief architect of foreign policy and the leadership of Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, the DFA will pursue its mandate patiently, resolutely, and without fanfare," he said.
"Progress may be incremental, but lasting solutions are negotiated over time," he added.

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