Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on West Philippine Sea (WPS) matters, stated on Saturday that the National Task Force for the WPS (NTF-WPS) has been publicizing China’s aggressive actions in the disputed waters to help ensure that future Philippine presidents remain committed to defending the nation’s maritime sovereignty.
“We need to reach out and increase awareness to make sure that the President elected in 2028 will not set aside our fight in the WPS,” Tarriela said. “We have to ensure the next president will continue what President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has started and will uphold our stance in the WPS.”
He noted that the NTF-WPS’s transparency campaign, initiated in 2023, has had a positive impact on public awareness. “We can see from the data that 89 percent of Filipinos are now aware of the WPS issue,” he said. “The second objective is for the international community to understand that there is a country like China that does not care about international law, and does not adhere to UNCLOS, which it also signed.”
Tarriela emphasized that defending the West Philippine Sea is a shared responsibility. “The WPS issue goes beyond politics and beyond social needs,” he said. “What’s at stake is our identity as Filipinos. Our independence was earned by heroes who gave their lives for this nation.”
His remarks came after a Chinese military ship was sighted near the Panata Islands on Friday. A Philippine Navy vessel issued a radio challenge, but the Chinese ship did not respond.
