The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reaffirmed its determination to protect national interests in the West Philippine Sea following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recognition of its personnel during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan expressed deep gratitude to the President for honoring the dedication and sacrifices of coast guardians, particularly those deployed in contested waters to protect local fisherfolk and secure Philippine territory.
“The President’s commendation is a tribute to every coast guardian who faithfully performs his or her duty under challenging circumstances. It inspires us to continue serving with courage and unwavering commitment to our mandate of protecting the Filipino people and advancing our national interests at sea,” Gavan said.
During his address to a joint session of Congress, Marcos paid tribute to the PCG, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and local fishermen, reiterating his administration’s resolve to uphold the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.
“We give honor to our Armed Forces, the Coast Guard, and even our fisherfolk, who all continue to patrol and ply our seas, though fraught with risks,” Marcos said during his SONA.
“To them we owe collective gratitude and appreciation for they give life to the letter and spirit of the Arbitral Award,” he added.
Marcos pledged to continue protecting the country’s maritime rights through peaceful and diplomatic means, emphasizing that the dispute transcends physical territory and touches on the nation’s core identity.
“Of late, our very humanity has been called into question. Let me remind our friends and our detractors: Filipinos are a noble, kind, gracious, and great race. We are not greedy. We are not racists. We are not liars,” the President emphasized.
“We are respectful, and we are dignified. We are Filipinos, and we do not yield,” he added.
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela welcomed the President’s firm stance, viewing it as a direct and vindicating response to recent aggressive actions by China—including claims over Batanes, hostile AI-generated propaganda targeting Filipinos, and confrontations in Ayungin Shoal that injured two Filipino sailors on July 20.
“My favorite line from the President was, ‘We are not greedy. We are not racists. We are not liars. We are dignified human beings.’ For me, it sums up everything that happened over the past two weeks, from China’s claim over Batanes, to our government’s response to the AI video, to the harassment of BFAR, and the recent incident in Ayungin,” Tarriela stated.
“So yes, I feel vindicated because President Marcos himself said we need to stand firm on this as Filipinos,” he shared.