Voters should look for candidates who stand up for WPS says PCG's Tarriela

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela called on Filipino voters to choose candidates in the upcoming May 2025 who are standing up for the country’s sovereignty, particularly on the territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“If we are going to elect senators, congressmen, or even local government unit executives, siguraduhin nating wala ni isa sa mga ito na ang uupo dahil pro-China sila, hindi sila pro-Philippines at hindi nila isinasa-alang-alang ang ating AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), PCG,” Tarriela said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

“It will be very difficult for the AFP na magkaroon ng modernisasyon, mahihirapan ang PCG na mag-acquire ng kapabalidad, kung ie-elect natin sa Senado at Kongreso ay haharang sa ating budget dahil for them, ang West Philippine Sea is not a priority,” the PCG official added.

The PCG official clarified he is not supporting any particular candidate or party in the upcoming midterm polls.

However, he reiterated that voters should throw their support to candidates who are upholding the Philippines’ claims in the disputed waters.

“[May] magkukunwaring sumusuporta at sasakyan lang ang issue, dahil noon, hindi talaga sila sumusuporta or talagang malakas ang loob nila na kampihan ang China at sabihin ang West Philippine Sea ay hindi naman talaga dapat natin isama sa usapin ng bawat Pilipino,” Tarriela said.

“Ang posisyon ko pagdating sa usaping West Philippine Sea, hindi ito usaping political.. usapin nating lahat ito bilang Pilipino regardless of who you are supporting. Whether you are supporters of the former admin or the current admin… tingnan natin isa-isa kung sino ang mga kandidato na ine- endorso nila, kung sila ba ay sumusuporta sa laban natin sa West Philippine Sea,” he said.

(My position regarding the West Philippine Sea issue is not political… it is an issue for all Filipinos regardless who you are suporting… examine each candidate who they are endorsing, whether they are supporting our fight in the WPS.)   

The PCG official further said Filipinos now are more aware of the importance of the WPS.

“Hindi mo na maloloko ang Pilipino na magje-jetski ka. For more than three years na ipinakita natin sa Pilipino kung ano talaga ang kalagayan ng West Philippine Sea, wala nang Pilipino na mabubudol na magje-jetski ka, dala-dala mo ang Philippine flag to counter China. If you are going to select those candidates right now, you need to look at their track record. Ano  ba ang naging posisyon nila sa batas?” Tarriela said.

(You can no longer fool Filipinos that you would jetski there. For more than three years we have shown Filipinos what is really happening in the West Philippine Sea, no Filipino will be fooled with jetski stunts, carrying the Philippine Flag to counter China… What was their position in regards to the law?) 

“Ang usapin ng WPS, this is an intergenerational battle, ito ang responsibilidad natin para sa susunod na salinglahi ng mga Pilipino. We need to keep on amplifying that position. Hindi ito para sa atin, para ito sa susunod na salinlahi ng mga Pilipino, siguraduhin natin na alam nila kung bakit ipinaglalaban ito,” he added.

(The WPS issue is an intergenerational battle, this is our responsibility to the Filipino race… This is not just for us, but for the next generation of Filipinos, we must make sure they know why we are fighting for this.)

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China has refused to recognize the decision. — RF, GMA Integrated News

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