Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela criticized Vice President Sara Duterte over her remarks comparing the Philippines’ military capabilities with those of China, describing her position as a “defeatist mindset” that could embolden Beijing.
In a lengthy Facebook post on Sunday, November 8, Tarriela took issue with Duterte’s remarks during her engagement with the Filipino community in Hong Kong, where she questioned how the Philippines could stand against China given the disparity in their military strength.
Tarriela compared Duterte’s statement to remarks previously made by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan, who said on October 15 that China could easily win if it chose to use force against the Philippines.
“Ngayon, ang ating VP mismo ang nag-uulit ng mensahe ng Chinese Embassy, may kasama pang hand gestures,” Tarriela said.
He also recalled previous statements from 2019 to 2021, including remarks about not entering a war that the Philippines could not win, describing the country as “inutile” in the West Philippine Sea, and warning that deploying the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard could result in a “massacre.”
According to Tarriela, six years of what he described as a defeatist mindset had resulted in no recovery of Philippine-held maritime interests, while China's structures within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) had continued to expand.
He argued that the Philippines does not need to engage China in a military confrontation to defend its maritime rights, stressing that the country has international law, the 2016 arbitral award, security partnerships, and transparency on its side.
“Walang nagsasabing makikipaggiyera tayo. Hindi laki ng braso ang laban natin, kundi ang UNCLOS, ang 2016 Arbitral Award na tayo ang nanalo, ang mga kaalyadong kasama natin, at ang transparency na nagpapakita sa buong mundo kung sino ang nambu-bully,” he said.
Tarriela also invoked Philippine historical figures and heroes, including Andres Bonifacio and Filipino soldiers who fought during the Battle of Bataan, saying they did not measure their opponents' military strength before defending the country.
He clarified, however, that he was not advocating war against China but emphasizing the importance of standing up for the country's sovereignty and national dignity.
In closing, Tarriela took a swipe at Duterte's possible bid for the presidency in 2028, referring to her as a potential applicant to become the country's next commander-in-chief.
“Pero ang aplikante natin para maging Commander-in-Chief in 2028, kwentuhan pa lang ay suko na si ma'am!” he said.
