The definition of the Philippine territory is enshrined in the Constitution and international treaties and conventions validate such definition, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr said on Monday, stressing it is his sworn duty to defend the country’s territory and sovereignty.
President Marcos made the remarks during a question-and-answer session at the Lowy Institute event in Melbourne, Australia when asked why the West Philippine Sea issue is so important and why he takes an assertive stance against China’s provocations.
“I took an oath and in that oath I— the oath is to support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. And the first article of our Constitution is the definition of our territory, maritime and otherwise,” President Marcos, adding that has been validated by many actions by the United States, UNCLOS, and the baselines agreements secured by the country.
“And it has been recognized as sovereign territory of the Philippines. And therefore, it was not— in my view, when I came into office, we simply have no choice, we must defend the territory of the republic. And that is a primordial duty of a leader,” he said.
The Philippines, according to the President, has taken a very strong position because it cannot allow a unilateral decision made by some foreign capital to somehow amend, or to change the definition of the country’s territory.
Marcos promised to do whatever it takes to maintain that situation and make it very clear that the Philippines’ territorial integrity cannot be threatened, “and if threats are made, then we must defend against of threats.”
“It wasn’t a matter of policy choice, it is the duty that I took on when I came into office and that’s — I continue to see it that way and I think that every Filipino sees it that way,” said the President.
“And they depend and they expect their leaders to fulfill that duty. To be true to their oath, to defend the republic and its territory, and its people.”
In his keynote address at the Lowy Institute, the President said that the Philippines shall never surrender even one square inch of its territory and maritime jurisdiction, and will resist provocative, unilateral and unlawful actions to change the status quo. |PND
