MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday vowed to continue exerting all efforts to defend the country’s maritime domain and sovereign rights.
The President made the commitment during his visit to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command (AFP- WESCOM) in Palawan.
President Marcos rallied the troops to continue the mission – to defend the country’s maritime domain and allow the citizens to exercise their sovereign rights within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.
“Since I became President, I have made it very, very clear that we will do everything that we need to do to defend our territory, to defend our sovereignty, and to allow our citizens to exercise their sovereign rights within the EEZ,” President Marcos said.
The President thanked WESCOM troops for defending the country amid Chinese provocations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). He lauded the troops in the recent resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal for their brave actions against Chinese hostilities.
“Hindi magbabago ang ating pananaw dito sa sitwasyon na ito. Hindi tayo maaaring pilitin na basta pabayaan na lang na kung sino-sino ang magsasabi — hindi na sa inyo ‘yan, amin ito. Hindi na puwedeng mangyari ‘yun,” President Marcos told the troops.
President Marcos said the Philippines stands on “very solid international legal grounds” that are recognized by the whole world as far as the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is concerned.
He said WESCOM plays an important role in defending the country’s sovereignty in WPS.
“You have played a very, very important part in the defense of our sovereignty. Napakahalaga ng inyong ginagawa. Alam ko na nandito kayo, nasa kampo kayo, pumupunta kayo, lumalabas kayo – baka hindi ninyo nararamdaman na ang buong Pilipinas ay sinasaludo kayo sa inyong ginagawa,” President Marcos said. (PND)
