Marcos, Teodoro urged to create West Philippine Sea Command

West Philippine Sea composite image from INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. should start working on creating a West Philippine Sea Command, Senate Majority Francis Tolentino urged on Wednesday.

At the end of this appeal, Tolentino noted that a separate West Philippine Sea Command would show the country’s readiness to implement the Philippine Maritime Zones Law.

“I am calling upon the president as the commander and chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as secretary Gilbert Teodoro to immediately craft guidelines for the creation of a West Philippine Sea Command. I repeat, I call for the creation of a West Philippine Sea Command separate from the Western Command and the Northern Luzon Command,” Tolentino said.

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The senator, who also heads the chamber’s special panel on maritime and admiralty zones, said Palawan and the areas adjoining Panatag and Ayungin are under the Western Command, while Bajo de Masinloc, which is near Zambales, is under North Command.

According to him, it’s about time that a West Philippine Sea Maritime Command is created to ensure maritime security.

“[This is for] improved response capabilities, for both the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard and enhanced coordination between those two naval agencies including the PNP Maritime Command,” Tolentino said.

He said would write a formal letter to Marcos detailing the operational and strategic reasons why there would be a need to create such a command.

Tolentino said he was eyeing the letter to the Palace by Feb. 14.