Losing it

If Commodore Jay Tarriela earnestly wants to do a good job as spokesman of the Philippine Coast Guard, it would do him well to pay attention to the environment in which he operates and learn therefrom instead of being driven by the unrestrained passions that seem to envelop his being, and which he imposes upon others, unbidden.

More importantly, he needs to understand perfectly the direction in which his own commander-in-chief is headed, though he may bark no direct orders but prefers to lead by example. It says a lot, for instance, when President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. appointed former foreign affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. as special envoy to China.

The Philippines already has an ambassador to China in Jaime Florcruz. So why did Marcos still appoint Locsin as special envoy? Clearly Marcos wants to send the unmistakable signal that while he has drawn closer to the US as a strategic defense posture, he is not abandoning the value of peaceful initiatives by way of talks and diplomacy.

In Ambassador Florcruz the Philippines can maintain its regular ties with China. But because there is a special ongoing dynamic between the two countries over conflicting claims in the South China Sea, Marcos needs a dedicated channel of communication through which messages can flow with clarity. No mixed signals or ambiguity.

Unfortunately, Commodore Tarriela does not seem to be in step with the presidential cadence. After going to town with wild accusations against those with a less jingoistic posture on the Philippines-China conflict, maligning them as unpatriotic, traitors, and working for Chinese interests, he is now embarked on what seems to me like intrigue-peddling.

He is of the mind that China is being tipped off about Philippine plans in the South China Sea, particularly with regard to resupply missions to a motley detachment of Marines manning the remote outpost on the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal. Asked if he suspects Filipinos, he said he is not sure as there are also many Chinese nationals in the country.

I suspect Tarriela is losing it. For one thing, China is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. Snooping in on both countries and individuals is porridge for them. For another, its Navy is large, well equipped and well provisioned. It can afford long-term sea deployments in large enough numbers to swarm us anytime.

And then there is US OURSELVES. We Filipinos have the propensity to telegraph our punches. Had Tarriela been paying attention, even Armed Forces chief General Romeo Brawner promised after the water-bombing incident at Ayungin that the AFP will continue the resupply missions. This was promptly reported by the media. China needs no help from spies.

I can assure Tarriela that if and when hostilities do break out between the Philippines and China, every Filipino will be rallying behind the Filipino flag and sacrifice their lives if necessary. But before that happens, it is the patriotic duty of every loyal Filipino to find a peaceful way out of armed conflict. For war is a terrible thing.

In this regard, a big "saludo ko sa 'yo" is in order for Senator Chiz Escudero who, in face of sensation-fishing by Karen Davila, reminded everyone getting hot under the collar in this Philippines-China row that no less than the Constitution renounces war as an instrument of foreign policy. Thus, a mere spokesman should behave like one.