The Philippine Coast Guard stated Saturday that it’s going to observe correct channels in releasing any info on its operations within the West Philippine Sea (WSP), to keep away from weakening the county’s place on issues regarding overseas coverage.
PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu stated he’ll now not disclose direct to the general public China’s acts of “aggression” within the WPS as it’s already past [his] mandate to take action, and it’d weaken the nation’s disposition in regards to the disputed territorial waters.
“‘Pag masyado tayo may nasasabi, ako, especially the commandant, nasa operation on the ground, masyado nababasa tayo ng mga ‘kaibigan’ natin… ire-reveal natin lahat eh masyado tayong nalagay na position na humihina ‘yung ating disposition, leverage sa issue,” Abu said.
[If the PCG talked too much to the media about our operations in the disputed sea, our adversaries could easily size up our every move. And this might result in the weakening of our disposition and leverage on the issue].
Moreover, Admiral Abu said, “I might cross the border beyond the mandate of my office.”
“Gustong gusto ko po na mag provide ng mga information na makakatulong sa ating lahat especially sa ating mahal na inang bayan pero ‘yung particular diyan sa West Philippine Sea issue, hindi po ako, commandant ng Coast Guard ang sole authority o ang may tamang mandato para magsalita dyan sa issue natin sa West Philippine Sea,” Abu said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
[I want to provide all particular information to the public, but it is beyond my mandate. The PCG has no authority on that].
But Abu said, the PCG will still provide the media with press releases regarding the situation in the WPS — “duly vetted by the Task Force [on the WPS] and the National Security Adviser.”
“So ‘yun na lang hintayin natin… we are giving you naman any information, any press releases. Everybody will be provided,” he said.
Abu’s statement veers away from the agency’s current transfer to publicize China’s aggressive actions within the nation’s maritime area following the laser-pointing incident on the BRP Malapascua close to the Ayungin Shoal, of which some members of the Coast Guard had suffered short-term blindness.
It launched a video the place a problem from China might be heard telling the PCG to depart the realm although it’s throughout the unique financial zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.
It additionally gave updates on the presence of Chinese maritime militia and coastguard vessels noticed earlier contained in the nation’s maritime territory.
China is claiming just about all the South China Sea, which overlaps with the Philippine EEZ, in addition to with different claimant international locations within the disputed waters, together with Malaysia and Vietnam. —LBG, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
