Romualdez seeks PCG volunteers amid still rising WPS tensions

The BRP Teresa Magbanua at the port of Puerto Princesa City. —File photo from the Philippine Coast Guard

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez urges Filipinos to volunteer with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), particularly as tensions continue to rise over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a statement on Sunday, Romualdez said Filipinos must take an active role in defending the country’s maritime territories from the intrusive actions of foreign powers — including the spread of misinformation, like claims that Palawan is part of China.

“This is not the time to be silent. Every day, other countries try to occupy our seas. If we ourselves would not move, who else would defend our territories?” Romualdez, who was recently promoted to vice admiral of the PCG Auxiliary (PCGA), said in Filipino.

“No country has the right to block our troops, our fisherfolk, and our people in our own seas. We would not trade this out of fear or due to other people’s desires. The West Philippine Sea is ours — not only on paper, but also in real life,” he added.

Claiming Palawan

Tensions over the WPS rose again after PCG spotted last February four Chinese vessels near Bajo de Masinloc, including the so-called monster ship — Chinese Coast Guard vessel CCG 5901.

READ: PCG spots ‘monster ship,’ more China vessels at Bajo de Masinloc

Then, on February 18, a Chinese military helicopter came as close as 3 meters above a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources plane, which was conducting a patrol of the Panatag Shoal, another sandbar at the WPS.

READ: Chinese PLA Navy chopper gets as close as 3 meters to BFAR plane

On Chinese social media platforms, videos were posted showing that the nine-dash line — China’s territorial claim that encompasses a huge part of the WPS or the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone — now included Palawan.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has already clarified that the island of Palawan never belonged to China, noting that the Philippines and its state predecessors have “always exercised sovereignty over our archipelago and over Palawan in particular.”

READ: Palawan was never part of China – NHCP

China’s two-pronged approach to its propaganda should not be allowed to prosper, Romualdez said.

“They are not only using ships, but also the internet to make us succumb. One day, we will just wake up and say that Palawan is no longer ours. We would not allow this,” he stressed.

‘All of us can do something’

“Serving the country is not only for those in uniform. All of us can do something. By joining PCGA, we can do more, our defense is strengthened,” he added.

According to Romualdez, the PCGA allows civilians to contribute to national defense, maritime security, environmental protection, and disaster response by having volunteers assist in search-and-rescue missions, coastal cleanups, and marine biodiversity conservation.

The PCGA welcomes Filipino citizens aged 18 and above, including those with experience in maritime affairs, environmental conservation, and public safety, he added.

Romualdez said he was confident that Filipinos would heed his call, especially after a Social Weather Stations survey showed that they prefer 2025 midterm election candidates who support the assertion of the Philippines’ rights over the WPS.

The survey, conducted from February 15 to 19, revealed that 78 percent of Filipinos would support candidates who believe the Philippines must assert its rights over the disputed region, while only 22 percent back those who oppose this position.

“The fight at the West Philippine Sea does not only involve the government. This is a fight for the entire country. And if we want our leaders to fight for our rights, we should also be in the lead,” Romualdez said.

“Let us not allow ourselves to be deceived. The fight for our sovereignty does not happen in our seas only but also in our minds. All of us have the responsibility of fighting for the truth and our rights. If we will not act now, when will we?  We should not wait for a new incident, a new rude action, and a new threat before we act,” he added.