The West Philippine Sea issue should not be used to further anyone’s political agenda as it concerns every Filipino, said Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday.
In a press briefing, Tarriela, the PCG’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the West Philippine Sea is “not represented by any political color.”
“Whether you supported the former administration or this current administration, ang laban natin ng West Philippine Sea, dapat hindi natin ginagawang isyung political. Ito ay laban natin lahat bilang Pilipino,” he added.
(Whether you supported the previous administration or the current administration, our fight for the West Philippine Sea should not be turned into a political issue. This is every Filipino’s fight.)
Tarriela made the statement as he reminded the public that it is everyone’s responsibility to counter disinformation and misinformation about the West Philippine Sea.
“The greatest challenge of our fight in the West Philippine Sea is fake news and misinformation,” he said.
He warned that more people are likely to believe disinformation if it is not corrected.
“That’s why every opportunity na meron akong pagkakataon na sumagot sa mga social media posting ng kahit na sinong tao, nobody in particular, whether you’re a politician, social media influencer, or just an ordinary person, I always make it a point to counter all these lies,” Tarriela said.
(Whenever I have the chance to respond to social media posts by anyone, nobody in particular, whether a politician, social media influencer, or ordinary person, I always make it a point to counter all these lies.)
In August, the Armed Forces of the Philippines called out an old video of the Ayungin Shoal incident that resurfaced on social media.
The military warned the public against the spread of fake news and disinformation concerning its operations in the West Philippine Sea.
“We call out recent attempts to mislead the public by falsely labeling old or recycled footage as a ‘new’ incident in Ayungin Shoal. These deceptive tactics are not only irresponsible – they aim to manipulate public perception, distort the truth, and weaken our shared resolve in asserting the nation’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” the AFP then said.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China’s claims in the South China Sea, but Beijing refused to recognize the decision. — JMA, GMA Integrated News
