QUEZON CITY – Filipinos should not vote for candidates for senator, House representative, or local government positions in the upcoming May 2025 elections if they are pro-China and, in effect, against the interests of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

“Alam na natin kung paano tayo binu-bully ng China. Alam natin na ang mga mangingisdang Pilipino ay patuloy pa ring nahihirapang mangisda dito dahil sa harassment nila,” PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Commodore Jay Tarriela, said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

“So if we’re going to elect senators, congressmen, or even local government unit executives, siguraduhin natin wala ni isa sa mga ito ang uupo dahil pro-China sila,” he appealed to voters.

Tarriela made the remarks amid the latest incident in the WPS, in which a Chinese military helicopter came within three meters of a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) patrol airplane conducting routine maritime patrols over Scarborough Shoal. The maneuver reportedly created a turbulent propeller wash that nearly destabilized the Philippine aircraft.

The PCG stated: “The Philippine Government is deeply disturbed by the unprofessional and reckless flight maneuvers of a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-Navy) Harbin Z-9 helicopter with tail number 68 that flew and hovered as close as three meters above a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft conducting a routine maritime domain awareness flight over Bajo de Masinloc, yesterday, 18 February 2025. This blatantly hazardous action endangered the safety of the pilots and passengers onboard. It demonstrated a lack of regard for internationally accepted norms on good airmanship and flight safety.”

The PCG also reported monitoring “a swarm of over 50 Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels, accompanied by a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship within the vicinity of Pag-asa Island in the WPS. The swarm of vessels was recorded when the PCG and BFAR conducted a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight in the Kalayaan Island Group. The MDA mission flight also documented the presence of at least six CMM vessels in Rozul Reef, while CCG vessel 5101 was sighted near Pag-asa Island. This mission also documented the unlawful activities conducted by the CCG and CMM in the Kalayaan Island Group,” the PCG said.

Tarriela clarified that he does not support any candidate, group, or political party. However, he reiterated that voters should back candidates who uphold the Philippines’ claims in the WPS.

“Ang posisyon ko pagdating sa usaping West Philippine Sea, hindi ito usaping political… usapin nating lahat ito bilang Pilipino regardless of who you are supporting. Whether you are supporters of the former administration or the current admin… tingnan natin isa-isa kung sino ang mga kandidato na ine-endorso nila, kung sila ba ay sumusuporta sa laban natin sa West Philippine Sea,” he said.

He stressed, “If we elect lawmakers who don’t think of the West Philippine Sea as a priority, they can stall the budget of the PCG. Dahil hindi sila pro-Philippines at hindi nila isinasaalang-alang ang ating Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, and ordinary fishermen.”

“It will be very difficult for the AFP na magkaroon ng modernisasyon, mahihirapan ang PCG na mag-acquire ng kapabilidad, kung ie-elect natin sa Senado at Kongreso ay haharang sa ating budget dahil for them, ang West Philippine Sea is not a priority,” the PCG official added.

Tarriela further stated that Filipinos are now more aware of the issue and the importance of the WPS.

He said, “Wala nang Pilipinong mabubudol na sasabihin mo mag-je-jetski ka [sa West Philippine Sea] dala mo ang Philippine flag, to counter China. Because, for more than three years, ipinakita natin sa mga Pilipino kung ano talaga ang kalagayan ng West Philippine Sea.”

“[May] magkukunwaring sumusuporta at sasakyan lang ang issue, hindi talaga sila sumusuporta or talagang malakas ang loob nila na kampihan ang China…,” Tarriela noted, as he cautioned the public, “If you are going to select those candidates right now, you need to look at their track record. Ano ba ang naging posisyon nila sa batas?”

Tarriela concluded, “Ang usapin ng WPS, this is an intergenerational battle, ito ang responsibilidad natin para sa susunod na salinglahi ng mga Pilipino. We need to keep on amplifying that position. Hindi ito para sa atin, para ito sa susunod na salinlahi ng mga Pilipino, siguraduhin natin na alam nila kung bakit ipinaglalaban ito.”

📷 Saturday News Forum