PBBM STANDS FIRM IN DEFENDING WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. stood firm in defending the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid reports that the Chinese increased its electronic communication jamming activities against Philippine vessels in the area.

In an interview before leaving for Australia on Wednesday, President Marcos expressed his apprehension over the aggressive maneuvers of Chinese nautical assets in the WPS, saying China is now deploying its Navy ships to support the Chinese Coast Guard vessels already deployed there.

“Nagbabago ang sitwasyon, but – well, maliwanag naman para sa atin, we don’t really— we just watch, of course, what everybody is doing, but really for us, patuloy pa rin natin, we just defend our maritime territory,” President Marcos said when asked about China’s alleged electronic jamming activities against Filipino vessels in the WPS.

“We continue to support all of our fishermen, fisherfolks who make their living from these fishing grounds at patuloy naman nating tutulungan sila. At despite whatever else happens, bina-block tayo, kung ano, may shadow, eh patuloy pa rin ang ating gagawin dahil ‘yan naman ang trabaho natin, trabaho natin tulungan natin ‘yung mga fishers na matagal na, ilang henerasyon na doon nangingisda,” he added.

President Marcos’ statement came after Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS, Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad revealed on Tuesday of the increase in cyber interference, electronic interference and signal jamming “not only for equipment of the ship but also for land-based communication equipment” of the Philippine Navy.

President Marcos stressed the Philippine government will not change its tune on the WPS issue.

“So, that’s essentially the issue there. So, that’s the basic principle there, is that the fishers must be allowed to fish in their traditional fishing grounds, which belong in the maritime territory of the Philippines,” the President said.

President Marcos left for Canberra, where he will address the Parliament of Australia upon the invitation of Governor-General David Hurley and further enhance the bilateral ties between the two countries.