NATIONAL Secretary Eduardo Año yesterday assured the public that the administration of President Marcos Jr will not waver in his commitment to protect the country’s sovereignty and integrity.
Año, who is also the chair of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), supported the President’s remarks during his State of the Nation Address last Monday.
“We join the President in his declaration that the Philippine government will continue to uphold its sovereign rights and preserve our nation’s territorial integrity,” he said.
During the SONA, Marcos reiterated his administration’s commitment to preserve the country’s sovereignty and territorial rights amid global developments. He also reaffirmed his foreign policy that the Philippines is a friend to all and enemy to no one as he highlighted the importance of dialogues and diplomatic approaches.
“We will protect our sovereign rights and preserve our territorial integrity, in defense of rules-based international order. With our national interest paramount, we will always pursue constant dialogue and diplomatic approaches to the resolution of any issue that may arise,” he said.
Año said the NTF-WPS, with the guidance of the President, “will underscore the importance of unity and social cohesion among the Filipino people, assuring them that the government will not lose any of its territory.”
“Under his leadership, we will never waver in upholding the implementation of the 2016 Arbitral Award in relation to our rights in the West Philippine Sea, in defense of a rules-based international order,” said Año.
The ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA invalidated China’s excessive claims in the South China Sea and recognized the Philippines rights to its 200-nautical miles exclusive economic zone.
China, which is claiming almost the entire South China Sea, has refused to abide by the ruling and has been insisting on bilateral talks to address the maritime dispute. Aside from the Philippines, also claiming parts of the South China Sea are Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
China has become aggressive in its claims in the past years. Chinese ships have harassed Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the South China Sea in the past months.
One of harassment incidents occurred in February when a China Coast Guard vessel pointed a military-grade laser light at a PCG vessel which was escorting a Navy resupply mission at the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal. The incident caused temporary blindness of personnel manning the PCG vessel
Last month, Chinese vessels blocked PCG ships entering Ayungin Shoal in the WPS to bring supplies to Philippine soldiers guarding the area.
Año said, “We welcome the support of a growing number of countries for the award. Our position is clear: The award is final and indisputable.”
“And we firmly reject attempts to undermine it but guided by the President, we will always pursue constant dialogue and diplomatic approaches with other claimants towards the resolution of any issue that may arise,” he added.
The President last week indicated he wanted more focus on addressing issues in the WPS as he created the Office of the Presidential Adviser of the West Philippine Sea and named as its head then-AFP chief Gen. Andres Centino, and gave Centino’s old post to then-Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr has said the President decided to have a presidential adviser with a Cabinet stature to stress the importance of the WPS.
The creation of the new office followed two senators’ calls for Marcos to asset the ruling, issued by the Netherlands-based PCA on July 12, 2016, instead of filing another case against China for its continued refusal to recognize the decision.
