Jay Tarriela of PH Coast Guard Speaks on Sen. Rodante Marcoleta
PH COAST GUARD – The Philippine Coast Guard raised an invitation to Senator Rodante Marcoleta to join their maritime mission following his controversial remarks.
There are still ongoing territorial disputes between the Philippines and China. Despite the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling which sided to PH, China continued to assert its claims. There are even several reports of the Chinese authorities supposedly picking a fight with the Philippine authorities in the disputed islands.
Pentagon previously said that the ramming incident in Ayungin Shoal may escalate. There was also an instance when a water cannon of China fired against the PH Coast Guard vessel in the West Philippine Sea.
Amid the ongoing territorial dispute between China and the Philippines, a remarks of minority Sen. Rodante Marcoleta recently went controversial and hooked different opinions. He reportedly suggested that the Philippines consider “giving up” the Kalayaan Group of Islands.
According to Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, some of the features of the Kalayaan Island Group lie beyond the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. The Senator made the statement during the Commission on Appointments’ hearing of the generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Recently, PH Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela raised an invitation to Sen. Rodante Marcoleta to join a mission flight in the West Philippine Sea. He also expressed his willingness to arrange a flight and personally join the operation.
“Give Senator Marcoleta a chance,” the PH Coast Guard spokesman said.
According to Tarriela, the Filipinos who are living in the Pag-asa Island would be “happy to welcome” Marcoleta. Amid the backlash, the Senator previously claimed that he was allegedly misquoted.
“I informed them that for the West Philippine Sea to be listed in the International Hydrographic Organization, we would need to deposit maps with the United Nations to notify the world that we are usurping part of the high seas by including the Kalayaan Island Group, since it lies beyond our exclusive economic zone,” Marcoleta said.
Amid the ongoing West Philippine Sea issue, based on a report on PhilStar, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson issued a warning against the alleged “homegrown traitors”. Amid the speculations, he claimed that his statement is allegedly not an accusation against specific colleagues.
“Those they can recruit are the traitors. The ones who would sell out their own country for personal gains, because they are looking at how it would benefit them,” Lacson said.
Previously, another minority lawmaker, Sen. Robin Padilla, also earned criticisms for asking the PH Coast Guard why it did not purchase stronger water cannons and hit back at China. Amid the criticisms, Padilla warned Filipinos who are allegedly trying to pick a fight with China.