MANILA, Philippines- Sinabi ng opisyal na ang pagkuwestiyon sa kapabilidad ng coast guard na protektahan ang West Philippine Sea (WPS) ay “disheartening to hear.”
Inihayag ni Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela na siya ay buong-pusong kaisa ng “Commandant and the 30,000 courageous men and women of the Philippine Coast Guard, who are dedicated to fulfilling our patriotic duty in the West Philippine Sea.”
Iginiit niya na patuloy nilang poprotektahan ang teritoryo ng Pilipinas kahit walang tulong ng foreign partners.
“It is disheartening to hear doubts cast on our capabilities to carry out this duty without the support of other external actors,” ani Tarriela nitong Huwebes.
“The Filipino people can rest assured that the PCG is resolute in our commitment to safeguarding our Exclusive Economic Zone. Despite any limitations we may encounter, we are unwavering in our determination to patrol and protect our waters with the assets available to us,” dagdag niya.
Hindi tinukoy ng coast guard official ang bansang tinutukoy niya. Subalit, sa hearing nitong linggo, tinanong ng senador kung may nakatulong ang presensya ng US aircraft sa tagumpay ng resupply mission sa Ayungin Shoal kamakailan.
Matatandaang hinarang ng Chinese vessels ang resupply mission ng Philippine government sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng water cannons. RNT/SA
