๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐จ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐. ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐, Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ซ๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐จ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง amid growing tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Following a recent collision involving the PLA Navy and the China Coast Guard, Commodore Tarriela declared that the PCG will continue its deployments to protect Philippine waters. He emphasized that the presence of Chinese vessels should not intimidate Filipinos, as their repeated illegal incursions are clear attempts to normalize an unlawful presence along Philippine coastal provincesโactions that the PCG is determined to challenge and expose.
Addressing the incident, Commodore Tarriela clarified that the ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ, ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ฒ. He cautioned against speculation but reaffirmed the PCGโs initial assessment that it was accidental. Despite this, he stressed that the actions of the Chinese forces were reckless and indicative of unprofessional conduct at sea, highlighting the need for strict adherence to international maritime laws to prevent further incidents.
Commodore Tarriela further stated that the collision was not the fault of the Philippine side, underscoring that such dangerous encounters are inevitable when opposing forces refuse to follow proper maritime protocols. He pointed to the incident as clear evidence of the hazardous and irresponsible maneuvers by both the PLA Navy and China Coast Guard. In light of this, the Philippine Coast Guard, with support from the West Philippine Sea Transparency Group, continues its call for unity, transparency, and vigilance in defending the countryโs maritime rights and combating disinformation.
