MANDALUYONG CITY – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. firmly declared that the Philippines will never back down from defending its territorial rights, emphasizing national sovereignty amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
“Never will we retreat in protecting Philippine territory,” Marcos said during his speech at the Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas rally on May 9.
Marcos asserted that only Filipinos should benefit from the country’s natural resources, underscoring his administration’s commitment to maritime sovereignty.
His remarks follow a recent incident near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), where two Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy ships and a China Coast Guard vessel reportedly conducted aggressive and dangerous maneuvers against the Philippine Navy’s BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35), which was conducting routine patrols alongside the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Philippine Coast Guard.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) condemned the incident, stating that the Chinese ships’ actions posed a threat to the safety of Philippine personnel and violated international maritime collision regulations.
Marcos reaffirmed his earlier stance that the Philippines would not surrender “even an inch” of its territory to any foreign force.