Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro reiterated President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s firm position on protecting Philippine territory while pursuing a diplomatic approach in addressing tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
During a press briefing on February 10, Castro said the President remains resolute in defending “every inch” of Philippine territory and will not surrender any part of it to any foreign power, amid ongoing territorial disputes involving Chinese forces.
Castro noted that while heated debates on the WPS issue continue in the Senate and in public discourse, Marcos prefers not to engage in such exchanges, emphasizing that the administration’s position is already clear and consistent.
“Alam nila at batid nila kung ano ang stance ng Pangulo, anong posisyon: Walang anumang bahagi ng Pilipinas ang dapat na mai-surrender sa anumang foreign power. So doon naman po talaga lahat tayo lumilinya,” Castro said.
She clarified that the recent intense debates in the Senate over the WPS are beyond the President’s jurisdiction, stressing that while legislators and citizens may express differing views, the executive branch maintains a unified policy.
“Iba po kasi nangyayari sa Senado. Iba po ang nangyari ang debatehan sa Senado. Iba rin ang nangyayari sa mga debate ng mga kapwa nating Pilipino. Of course, being a Filipino, we should always be pro-Philippines,” she notd.
Meanwhile, Castro welcomed the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) move to appoint a spokesperson for maritime affairs, saying it reflects the President’s directive to place diplomacy at the center of state-to-state engagement.
She explained that while various agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard, the National Maritime Council, and the Philippine Navy may issue statements on the WPS, their messages differ due to the nature of their mandates.
“Pagdating po sa DFA, it's more on the policy. Pagdating po, let's say, sa Philippine Coast Guard, sa operasyon sila. So magkaiba po kasi ang magiging mensahe ng Philippine Coast Guard as compared sa DFA,” she said.
“Nagkakaisa naman po, aligned naman po kung ano ang gusto ng Pangulo, firm pero diplomatic. So hindi naman po nagkakaiba-iba, iba lang po siguro ang kanilang kung papaano nila ito ihayag dahil iba naman din po yung kanilang ipinapahayag. Isang polisiya, yung isa naman po ay operasyon," Castro added.
Castro’s remarks followed the appointment of former Navy and Coast Guard officer-turned-diplomat Rogelio Villanueva Jr. as DFA spokesperson for maritime affairs, a move aimed at ensuring clearer and more unified communication while upholding diplomacy in addressing maritime disputes.
