PRRD plans to visit West Philippine Sea as civilian

MANILA – Despite knowing it would be a “gamble,” President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Sunday said he wants to accompany the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on its visit to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as a civilian.

He said this during the commissioning of Barko ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas (BRP) Melchora Aquino — the Multi-Role Response Vessel (MRRV) 9702 of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) — at Pier 15, South Harbor in Manila.

“Someday I could maybe ride with the Coast Guard to see. Maski na civilian na ako, sana bigyan ninyo akong kaunting ano lang (Even if I am already a civilian, I hope you give me a little…) that you can invite me to ride with you…. It does not have any ramifications because civilian na ako (would be a civilian by then). And I could maybe ride with you diyan sa (to the) West Philippine Sea. It is a gamble,” he said.

Although Duterte recognized that China claims about 90% of the South China Sea, he noted that the Philippines would continue to fight for its sovereign rights in the disputed sea.

“You have at one time in our national life that we have to assert the — what is ours…Kaibigan ko si President Xi Jinping (is my friend). And we have talked a lot in the so many visits that I did in the past years. Pero (But) I made it clear to him na (that) we cannot give up sovereignty over the waters sa (in the) Philippine Sea, including the exclusive economic zone because it’s vital for our national life,” he added

Amid criticisms that his administration has downplayed the Philippines’ sea dispute with China in exchange for economic benefits, Duterte advanced the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea by raising the arbitral award in fora such as the United Nations General Assembly in 2020 and 2021.

Duterte also commended the PCG for its “excellent record” of helping the government in “maintaining its independence and integrity as a republic.”

He also lauded Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade for “husbanding” the PCG through the formal commissioning of the brand new capital ship BRP Melchora Aquino.

“We have gone a long way to improve. Pasalamat ako kay (I am thankful for) Arthur, including the railways. In our own humble way, sabi nga niya (he said), we delivered,” he added.

The Philippines won the arbitration case it lodged against China on July 12, 2016 after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands invalidated Beijing’s nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea.

China refused to acknowledge the arbitral ruling.

Duterte reiterated that the Philippines could not afford going to war with China.

“We cannot win and we will lose and the population will suffer. The Filipino nation would be in a very tight situation, a quandary of how to go about I said navigating the geopolitical issues in Europe and here, Taiwan,” he said.

He expressed his hope that the two countries would settle their sea dispute simply by talking.

“There’s really no need to kill a human being,” he added.