West Philippine Sea: Teodoro urges vigilance vs sovereignty threats

Defense Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. at the acceptance, turn-over, and blessing ceremony of the C-208B aircraft at Clark Air Base, September 19, 2023 | PHOTO: INQUIRER.net / Ryan Leagogo

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. urged Filipinos to be vigilant against what he deemed as modern threats against the country’s sovereignty.

“Let us remain vigilant and ready to do our part in guarding and defending the freedom and independence of our Motherland,” Teodoro said in a statement in Filipino on Tuesday on the occasion of the Philippines’ 126th Independence Day.

Commemorated every June 12, Independence Day commemorates the declaration of Philippine independence from Spain in 1898.

“In the middle of new threats to our freedom and sovereignty, and the new challenges of modern times, the Department of National Defense will remain steadfast,” he added.

Teodoro also warned against fostering division among Filipinos to undermine the country’s freedom.

“Now more than ever, let’s strengthen the unity of our people to dismiss and refute the lies and misinformation spread by those who seek to suppress and divide us,” Teodoro said.

West Philippine Sea

Teodoro did not mention a particular country, but the defense chief recently unleashed a salvo of attacks against China, especially over its claim of a new model agreement with military officials in handling the situation in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

READ: China embassy’s ‘barking’ violates wiretapping law if claims true — Teodoro

Commodore Jay Tarriela, who is the Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, likened the military and coast guard personnel to the national heroes “who made great sacrifices for us to enjoy the freedom and independence we have today.”

“Let us also express our deepest gratitude to the brave men and women of the @TeamAFP and the  @coastguardph who tirelessly protect our territorial integrity, ensuring that they will hold the line for the next generations of Filipinos to continue our fight for the West Philippine Sea!” Tarriela said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.

Tarriela added: “We stand firm and resolute in our commitment to safeguard our sovereignty. We will not yield!”

American ‘intervention’ slammed

A militant fisher’s group stormed the United States’ Embassy on Wednesday as part of the Independence Day’s commemoration.

Members of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) staged a protest in front of the American embassy to denounce what they branded as continued military intervention, which, they said, further escalates the tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

READ: 2025 Balikatan war games will simulate ‘full scale’ battle—Teodoro

“Contrary to the narrative that the U.S. military presence is a deterrent to China’s aggressive occupation in our territorial waters, the ground reality shows otherwise,” said Pamalakaya vice chairperson Ronnel Arambulo in a statement.

Beijing asserts sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, even if such a claim has been effectively invalidated by a July 2016 international tribunal ruling that stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013. Beijing continues to reject this landmark ruling.

Arambulo blamed the new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and the intensifying war games between Manila and Washington as the reason for the escalations.

“Chinese coast guard personnel have become more audaciously hostile towards Filipino troops stationed and doing resupply missions in our territory,” Arambulo said.

“This goes to show that the U.S. military presence is far from being a deterrent, but more of an escalation to the tension,” he added.