Marcos: PH will not give up West Philippine Sea

President Marcos reaffirmed his administration’s firm stand on defending the West Philippine Sea, declaring that the Philippines has never yielded its territory and will continue to defend its sovereignty.

- ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

Marcos underscored this after Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela said the next administration should continue the Marcos policy of asserting the country’s maritime rights.

In his podcast episode released on Saturday, June 21, the President said the government did not back down and will never back down.

“We did not yield. We continue to protect the sovereignty of the Republic,” he said when asked how he wants history to remember his policy on the disputed waters. “We continue to defend the territory of the Republic, and we continue to protect and defend the people of the Republic.”

Incidentally, one of three Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) boats were fired with water cannons by a Chinese Coast Guard ship while they were distributing subsidies to fishermen at Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.