Firm in his stance to defend the West Philippine Sea, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered Philippine forces to continue protecting the country’s maritime territory and sovereign rights, despite the recent incident near Bajo de Masinloc.
“Mananatili po tayo doon kung ano po ang dating ginagawa, at pagpapatuloy pa din na gagawin ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ang pagtulong sa mga mangingisda at pagprotekta sa ating maritime rights,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Tuesday during a press briefing in Malacañang.
“Sinabi ng Pangulo na wala siyang ibibigay na panibagong instruction kundi mananatili pa rin ang pagprotekta sa karapatan ng Pilipinas sa teritoryo at sa sovereign rights at maritime rights ng Pilipinas,” Castro said.
“Sinabi din niya na sa lahat ng laban hindi naman tayo aatras dahil ang mga Pilipino ay matatapang,” Castro added.
A Chinese naval vessel collided with a Chinese Coast Guard vessel while chasing the Philippine patrol boat BRP Suluan (MRRV-4406) in the West Philippine Sea on Monday.
The incident occurred near the Bajo de Masinloc while the PCG escorted vessels out to distribute aid to fishermen in the area.
The PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) were on a mission on Monday to distribute aid to local fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc as part of the “Kadiwa Para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda (KBBM)” program. ǀ PND
