Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, clarified that he is not endorsing any candidates following his statement urging voters to avoid pro-China politicians.
In a post on his social media, Tarriela seemed to respond to former journalist Jay Sonza’s comments regarding his warnings to the public about candidate selection.
“I am not sure what motivated Jay Sonza to reemerge, but it seems he is reacting to my call for Filipinos to avoid voting for any pro-China candidates, implying that I am campaigning for the administration’s candidates,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Tarriela emphasized that his message aims to remind Filipino voters to be discerning in their choices.
He highlighted the importance of selecting candidates who will not jeopardize their efforts in the West Philippine Sea and who will support the annual budgets of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), which are essential for operations in the WPS.
“To clarify, my message was for the Filipino people to be more discerning in selecting their candidates in the upcoming election. It is important to choose politicians who would not jeopardize our fight in the West Philippine Sea and who will support the annual budgets of the AFP, PCG, and BFAR for operational needs and capability development to sustain our fight,” he further said.
Additionally, Tarriela reiterated that he is not endorsing any candidates but is encouraging voters to make informed decisions and consider the actions taken to uphold sovereignty within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“Let me be clear: I am not endorsing any specific candidate. Instead, I am urging Filipino voters to elect legislators who support our fight, regardless of their party affiliation. It is imperative to evaluate candidates carefully to ensure they are not pro-China. Ultimately, I am asking them to prioritize our country in their choices. Ang boto natin ay para sa kinabukasan ng mga kabataang Pilipino, piliin natin ang Pilipinas!” (ZIA LUNA)
