President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has promoted Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Jay Tarriela to the rank of rear admiral, elevating one of the administration’s most visible voices on maritime tensions to flag officer status.
In a February 23 letter, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto informed acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez of Tarriela’s appointment. Also promoted to rear admiral were Weniel Abarquez Azcuna and Oliver Sy Tanseco.
The Coast Guard, attached to the Department of Transportation, was directed to notify the appointees and release their papers within seven days.
Tarriela has regularly briefed the media on maritime incidents and Coast Guard operations in the West Philippine Sea as spokesperson of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, becoming a key public face of Manila’s transparency campaign.
He previously drew Beijing’s ire over his disclosures and criticism of what Manila described as China’s “illegal” activities in the West Philippine Sea.
Despite this, Tarriela maintained there would be no “toning down” of the Philippines’ transparency campaign.