📷 iGlobenews
AFTER news broke out about the “imminent arrest” of Filipinos sailing at the West Philippine Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned what he aptly described as an unacceptable Chinese foreign policy covering the Philippine exclusive economic zone.
“That kind of action would be completely unacceptable to the Philippines,” Marcos said during an interview at the sideline of the merger between his Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and Nationalist People’s Coalition.
“But the position that we take is that that is unacceptable, and we will take whatever measures to always protect our citizens,” the President added.
Marcos took a swipe at the power bestowed by China to its Coast Guard to arrest and detain “foreign nationals” caught sailing at the West Philippine Sea starting June 1.
Previously, the President asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines to reskill and retool war strategies amid greater challenges on national security. He also called on new graduates of the Philippine Military Academy to die for the country if necessary amid threats to national security.
“Against intruders who have been disrespecting our territorial integrity, we will vigorously defend what is ours, but our conduct is always guided by law and by our responsibility as a rules-abiding member of the community of nations,” Marcos averred.
China has been claiming the entire South China Sea – including the 200-nautical mile Philippine exclusive economic zone.
Meanwhile, Marcos insisted that he has yet to hear the supposed wiretapped phone conversation between a Chinese embassy official and a top Navy official, whom news reports identified as Western Command chief Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos.
Carlos has already been fired.
“I keep hearing that there is a tape, and I keep wanting to hear it. And as yet, we don’t have it,” the President said, even as he cast doubt if such really exists.
“So until they release it, it becomes harder and harder to believe and accept that there was an agreement.” (ANGEL F. JOSE)
