We support and stand by our Philippine Coast Guard

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela correctly called out a few misguided Filipinos who defend China’s aggression and even act like its mouthpiece as unpatriotic and a traitor to our country.

“If you are a Filipino, whether in government or private sector, regardless of your politics, defending and making excuses for China’s aggressive behavior should deem you unpatriotic, and a traitor to the Philippines and to our people. Given current developments in the West Philippine Sea, it is important to show loyalty to country.

“While I recognize freedom of speech as an important right guaranteed by our constitution, it should not be misused as a means to justify unpatriotic actions by acting as China’s mouthpiece,” Tarriela posted on Twitter, underscoring that all Filipinos should “stand united in protecting our nation’s interest” in the wake of China’s unlawful and aggressive behavior in the West Philippine Sea, whose rich resources are for Filipinos.

Commodore Tarriela’s post – which has since garnered hundreds of thousands of views and shared on social media platforms such as Facebook – has elicited strong reactions and angry comments, describing these “traitors” as descendants of the “Makapili” who collaborated with the enemy and betrayed fellow Filipinos during World War II.

No one can really blame the PCG spokesman for expressing such sentiments because if anything, the members of the Philippine Coast Guard are at the frontline in defending our country’s maritime territory from encroachment, with no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recognizing the PCG’s role in “defending our economic zones and our baselines.”

Aside from defending our territory, the PCG is also tasked with protecting Filipino fishermen and ensuring their safety while they engage in fishing activities which have been their source of livelihood for generations. Absolutely no one doubts the kind of harassment and bullying that Filipino fishermen have been subjected to by Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels that shadow the fishing boats, forcing them to leave traditional fishing grounds that are within our exclusive economic zone.

Filipinos rely on our fishermen for the supply of fish which is a staple food, but according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Chinese incursions have contributed to the decline of fish production in 2022 – which is ironic considering that we have one of the longest coastlines in the world, even longer than the United States or China.

China’s bullying and aggression is a highly emotional issue for patriotic Filipinos so when they hear a few misguided, “intellectually stupid” people acting like China’s apologists, justifying the reprehensible actions of Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea, it really makes them feel so angry. It will not be surprising if it drives them to become a lynch mob.

The recent incident where the Chinese Coast Guard conducted dangerous maneuvers and sprayed water cannons at two Philippine boats carrying rice, water, vegetables and other food supplies for troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal is just another example of the relentless harassment and bullying that we have been facing for years. While China keeps professing that it wants to resolve maritime disputes through “peaceful means,” clearly its actions indicate otherwise.

At the Singapore Shangri-La Dialogue last June, Commodore Tarriela pointedly asked Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu: “While China is talking about dialogue, China’s actions show confrontation. Why is there a big difference between China’s words and its actions?” The Chinese Defense Minister did not give a direct answer.

Like so many Filipinos, we commend the men and women of the Philippine Coast Guard who are true patriots, and it’s no surprise that they are getting a lot of support from our countrymen, including patriotic legislators like Senator Francis Tolentino and Senate President Migz Zubiri who declared, “I stand… with our Coast Guard men and women as they face hostile actions by intruders right on our very own seas.”

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who has been very outspoken, is also getting so much respect. “China is not a friend. She is not even a good neighbor. Hindi tayo papayag na wala tayong gawin habang inaabuso at inaalipusta niya ang ating mga kababayan sa sarili nating karagatan (We will not just do nothing while they abuse and insult our countrymen in our own seas),” she said.

The response of the President to China’s claims that the Philippines promised to remove the BRP Sierra Madre, an active Philippine Navy commissioned vessel (which was deliberately grounded in Ayungin Shoal in 1999 and currently a military outpost manned by Philippine Marines), also uplifted the spirits of Filipinos.

“I’m not aware of any agreement that the Philippines should remove from its own territory, its own ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, from the Ayungin Shoal. And let me go further – if there does exist such an agreement, I rescind that agreement as of now,” the president said.

Saying “the Philippines has not and will never enter into any agreement abandoning its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Ayungin Shoal,” National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya challenged the Chinese government to identify the person or persons who made such promise to them.

Support is mounting for the proposal to refurbish BRP Sierra Madre, with Senate President Migz saying the Senate will fund a request, hailing our “brave men and women of the Marines and Navy” who deserve “our unconditional support as they sacrifice themselves for us.”

More and more countries are joining Filipinos worldwide in condemning China’s aggression and violation of our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.

More importantly, true Filipinos support our troops.

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