Philippine Coast Guard Defends Use of ‘West Philippine Sea’ in National Legislation

In a robust defense of national terminology, Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, has criticized Sagip party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta for questioning the legitimacy of the term ‘West Philippine Sea’. Tarriela argued that there is no legal impediment to incorporating the term into Philippine laws, emphasizing its widespread acceptance among Filipinos, military, and coast guard personnel. He stressed that the term reinforces the nation’s claim to its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Marcoleta, who helped pass the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, recently claimed in a House hearing that the West Philippine Sea does not exist, a statement Tarriela dismissed as problematic, especially from a senatorial candidate. Tarriela challenged Marcoleta’s stance by questioning why the area should not be named if it is acknowledged as part of the Philippines’ EEZ. Marcoleta’s comments have drawn ire from those who support the Philippines’ maritime claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).