West PH Sea policy to remain professional, unfazed by critics – DFA

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said it would maintain a “firm and professional” approach in handling West Philippine Sea issues and would not be swayed by public criticism or online commentary.

DFA spokesperson for maritime affairs Rogelio Villanueva Jr. said Philippine diplomats would stay focused on long-term national interests and avoid being sidetracked by what he described as “jeers” from “casual commentators, non-practitioners, and self-styled experts.”

He said diplomacy remains the country’s primary tool for securing strategic priorities in the maritime domain.

“Defense capabilities, messaging, and transparency are all important tools, but diplomacy is the bigger tool in the maritime toolbox and remains indispensable for securing the country’s strategic priorities,” Villanueva said in a press briefing in Pasay City.

The DFA’s remarks came amid criticism from some maritime policy analysts and legal experts who have questioned the department’s preference for quiet diplomacy in addressing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

Villanueva said the agency’s diplomats handle complex negotiations with attention to nuance and long-term national interest rather than public approval.

“Our work is not for fanfare, not for followers, and certainly not for likes,” he said.

He added that engagements with foreign counterparts would continue to be guided by professionalism and mutual respect. /gsg