MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is leaving it to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. whether he will order the deployment of Philippine warships to the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
According to PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Chief Executive may consider sending naval ships into the country’s territorial waters as a “policy option” amid China’s continued harassment.
Tarriela added that while the Philippine Navy is monitoring the situation in the WPS, it does not interfere with the harassment of the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the Chinese maritime militia against the Filipino fishermen, the PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
“It is up to the Armed Forces of the Philippines to carry out a policy recommendation to the President and the Commander-in-Chief, the President himself, has the full authority to decide on this,” Tarriela said.
“This is not a recommendation. All I’m saying is that in terms of reciprocity, that can be a policy option that can be carried out,” he added.
On December 4, some Chinese vessels made aggressive actions against the Philippine vessels at the Bajo de Masinloc where PLAN vessels with bow numbers 500 and 571 also took part by tailing the PCG’s BRP Teresa Magbanua “at the very close distance of 300 yards.”
On the same day, the CCG harassed the BRP Melchora Aquino, BRP Cape Engaño and the BFAR vessels that were deployed at Escoda Shoal.
Tarriela said President Marcos has the sole authority to decide whether there is a need to modify the Philippines’ response to the WPS.
“For the past three administrations, the Philippine Coast Guard has been chosen to be deployed to the West Philippine Sea because, for the past administrations, they believed it is de-escalatory, non-provocative,” Tarriela said.
“What I’m saying is, the Philippine Coast Guard, we can never replace the Philippine Navy with the issue of territorial defense. And it is very alarming in a way that [PLAN] warships are encroaching on our own exclusive economic zone,” he added./PN
