President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned the recent attack by the China Coast Guard (CCG) on a Philippine Navy personnel during a confrontation in the West Philippine Sea on Monday, July 20, Malacañang said Tuesday.
The Navy personnel sustained a serious head injury after being struck with a wooden baton by a member of the CCG.
"Kinukondena po niya, kinukondena po ng Pangulo ang mga ganitong klase ng pangyayari," Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said during a Palace briefing.
Despite the incident, Castro said President Marcos would continue to pursue a "diplomatic manner" in dealing with tensions in the WPS.
"Hindi po ninanais ng Pangulo ang mga ganitong klaseng insidente na siyang nagbibigay ng polisiya na dapat tayo ay tumugon sa mga ganitong klaseng mga insidente through a diplomatic manner," she said.
The Palace also described the latest alleged harassment by the China Coast Guard as "unacceptable."
"Hindi po katanggap-tanggap ang nangyari sa pagitan ng bansa natin at ng China," Castro said.
She added that the Philippines would continue to stand by its rights under international law.
"Hindi po nadaraan sa dahas ang anumang pakikipaglaban sa karapatan. Hindi pinag-uusapan dito ang laki ng teritoryo o lakas ng iyong puwersa kundi pakikipaglaban para sa katotohanan at kung ano ang iyong karapatan," she said.
Castro said Marcos also supports the statements previously issued by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) regarding the incident.
"Hindi tayo pasisiil," she said, noting that the government strongly condemned the latest incident.
She dismissed China's narrative alleging that Filipino personnel initiated the confrontation, saying the Philippines remains focused on asserting its lawful rights.
"Kung ano po ang kanilang naratibo, ganiyan po ang maaari nilang sabihin—hindi po natin ito saklaw. Pero ang pinaninindigan po natin, kung ano ang karapatan natin at kung ano ang dapat lamang gawin ng ating mga opisyal at mga Filipino personnel pagdating po diyan. So, sinusuportahan po natin ang mga ginagawa ng ating mga Filipino officials," Castro said.
Asked whether the President was considering changing his strategy in response to China's continued actions, including the release of a video allegedly portraying Filipinos as monkeys, Castro said:
"Sa panahon po ngayon ay kailangan pong aralin din ng Pangulo pero hindi po nadadaan sa dahas ang anumang pakikipaglaban sa karapatan," Castro said.
"Hindi pinag-uusapan dito ang laki ng iyong teritoryo, ang lakas ng iyong puwersa kundi pakikipaglaban sa katotohanan at kung ano ang iyong karapatan," she added.
