The hoisting of the Philippine national flag on Sandy Cay on Sunday (April 27) reaffirms President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s commitment that the Philippines will not yield even a square inch of its territory or maritime jurisdiction.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized on Wednesday that the flag-raising on Sandy Cay clearly demonstrates that China does not control the area, contrary to reports by Chinese state media.
“Alinsunod sa pangako ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. na hindi isusuko ang kahit na maliit na bahagi ng ating bansa, pinangunahan ng Philippine Navy, [Philippine] Coast Guard, at Philippine National Police – Maritime Group ang pagtataas ng watawat ng Pilipinas bilang pagpapakita ng ating soberanya sa mga cay na bahagi ng Kalayaan, Palawan,” Castro disclosed in a press briefing in Malacañang.
Castro said “pagpapakita ito na hindi kontrolado ng Chinese Coast Guard ang Pag-asa Cay 2,” stressing the cays are within 12 nautical miles of Pag-asa Island.
The Palace Press Officer added that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other agencies renewed their assurance to defend and protect the country’s rights and sovereignty within its maritime domain and jurisdiction based on international law.
Earlier, National Security Council (NSC) reported that the Inter-Agency Maritime Operation (IAMO) conducted a routine visit to Sandy Cay, Pag-asa Cay 2 in particular, and the surrounding waters of Cay 1 and Cay 3.
The IAMO team completed the mission without incident, clearly contradicting any narrative that Sandy Cay was seized. Sandy Cay is a maritime feature of a low bank or reef of coral, rock, and sand located in the Spratly Islands near Pag-Asa Island in the Spratlys.
President Marcos has consistently affirmed his sworn duty to defend the country’s territory and sovereignty amid China’s assertive actions and provocations in the West Philippine Sea.
The President has said that the Philippines shall resist provocative, unilateral, and unlawful actions to change the status quo.
On Monday, the government refuted reports by Chinese state media claiming that the China Coast Guard had taken control of Sandy Cay near Pag-Asa Island, calling them inaccurate and misleading. | PND
