MANILA, Philippines — Iginiit ni Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela na walang utos mula sa pamahalaan na hinaan ang pagmemensahe kaugnay ng mga insidente sa West Philippine Sea, at nananatiling gabay ang prinsipyong “one message, many voices.”
Sa panayam sa ikalawang anibersaryo ng Philippine Coast Guard–West Philippine Sea Transparency Group (PCG-WPSTG) nitong Huwebes, sinabi ni Tarriela na dapat ipagpatuloy ang transparency dahil mataas na ang kamalayan ng publiko sa mga isyung pandagat sa nakalipas na tatlong taon.
Nilinaw niya na bagamat iisa ang mensahe ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno, nagkakaiba ang paraan ng paghahatid nito batay sa kani-kanilang mandato, gaya ng PCG, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), at Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“All of us have different levels of messaging, and it represents the mandate of each agency that we represent,” ani Tarriela sa mga mamamahayag sa Maynila.
Sa hiwalay na panayam, sinabi ni National Security Adviser Eduardo Año na ang naturang approach ay sumasalamin sa iba’t ibang antas ng responsibilidad sa loob ng pamahalaan.
“We have tactical, operational, and strategic levels, so we cannot just talk about one thing,” pahayag ni Año.
Dagdag niya, nakatutulong ang transparency upang makakuha ng suporta mula sa international community at magbigay ng presyon sa China na itigil ang umano’y pangbu-bully at harassment sa lugar.
“So, let’s stay true to the truth,” aniya.
Nagbabala si Tarriela na maaaring magkaroon ng matinding reaksiyon ang publiko kung ititigil ang transparency efforts, kasunod ng survey na nagpapakitang 94 porsiyento ng mga Pilipino ang sumusuporta rito.
“It’s important to continue it because right now, the level of awareness of our fellow Filipinos is very high. For the past three years, they’re already used to it. They know everything that’s happening. They know what the government is doing,” aniya.
“If ever, suddenly, we decide to put a stop to transparency, for me, our fellow Filipinos will have a pushback,” dagdag pa niya.
Binigyang-diin din ni Año na dapat gawing institusyonal ang transparency initiative upang matiyak ang pangmatagalang proteksiyon sa soberanya at sovereign rights ng bansa, anuman ang maging pagbabago sa pamunuan.
“We have to take care of our future. We want to institutionalize this so that we will be able to protect our sovereignty, our sovereign rights, and at the same time, ensure that what we have gained will be protected and will be continued by incoming leaders,” ani Año.
“This is for the good of our generation… This is our territory and our sovereign rights. We cannot give this away,” dagdag niya.
Ayon pa kay Año, suportado ng administrasyon ang mga panukalang batas tulad ng Anti-Espionage Law at Foreign Interference and Malign Influence Act upang mapalakas ang pambansang seguridad.
“We have a lot of senators who are supporting us. So, the Anti-Espionage Law, we support that. The Foreign Interference and Malign Influence Act, we also support that. These are the laws that will give protection to our countrymen,” aniya.
Sinabi rin ni Tarriela na maaaring maging pangunahing isyu sa susunod na halalan ang West Philippine Sea kung magpapatuloy ang transparency efforts.
“Of course, they will be looking for a potential candidate—not just for president, but even for the Senate, or even for their district representatives in Congress—they will want to have a politician who’s going to stand up for our rights in the West Philippine Sea,” ani Tarriela.
“For me, eventually, the transparency efforts that we’re doing right now will definitely make the West Philippine Sea as an election issue,” dagdag niya. Dave Baluyot
