SECURITY. During a news forum in Quezon City, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela highlighted the ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) due to China’s persistent harassment. Tarriela emphasized that the decision to deploy Philippine warships to the WPS rests solely with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
MANILA – Amid escalating tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has stated that the deployment of warships is a decision that lies with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. This was discussed during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
PCG spokesperson for WPS, Commodore Jay Tarriela, mentioned that deploying naval ships to the country’s territorial waters could be considered a “policy option” by Marcos. He noted that while the Philippine Navy monitors the situation, it does not intervene in the harassment faced by Filipino fishermen, the PCG, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) from the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese maritime militia.
Tarriela clarified that the Armed Forces of the Philippines would need to recommend such a policy to the President, who as Commander-in-Chief, holds the ultimate authority to decide. The PCG would support any decision made by the Armed Forces and the President.
He pointed out that deploying warships could be a reciprocal action, not a direct recommendation. Tarriela also mentioned a recent incident on December 4 at Bajo de Masinloc, where Chinese warships with bow numbers 500 and 571 aggressively tailed the PCG’s BRP Teresa Magbanua at a dangerously close distance of 300 yards.
On the same day, the CCG also harassed the BRP Melchora Aquino, BRP Cape Engaño, and BFAR vessels at Escoda Shoal. Tarriela stressed that President Marcos has the exclusive authority to alter the Philippines’ strategy in the WPS.
He noted that previous administrations preferred deploying the PCG to the WPS as a non-provocative and de-escalatory measure. However, Tarriela warned that the presence of Chinese warships in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone is alarming and underscores the need for a stronger naval presence.
Jonathan Malaya, Assistant Director General of the National Security Council, affirmed that the Philippines retains the right to deploy its naval vessels in response to China’s aggressive actions in the WPS.