A member of the Philippine Navy carries a Philippine flag during a short trip to Sandy Cay, a sandbar just 4 nautical miles from the disputed Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea where a number of Chinese naval ships have been spotted. (File photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Updated @ 12:18 a.m., Tuesday, July 26, 2022
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. stood firm on Monday in his promise to protect Philippine waters.
During Marcos’ first State of the Nation Address (Sona), he assured the public that the country would not lose any part of its territory to another nation.
“On the area of foreign policy, I will not preside over any process that will abandon even one-square inch of [the] territory of the Republic of the Philippines to any foreign power,” he said.
“But we will not waver. We will stand firm in our independent foreign policy, with the national interest as our primordial guide,” he asserted.
He added that the Philippines would continue to be a friend to all and enemy to none.
“The Philippines has always been open and welcoming to all our foreign friends and visitors. That is our world view, and that is our culture,” the president said.
According to Marcos, the Philippines will be a “good neighbor” willing to find ways to collaborate and cooperate with other nations.
He vowed that the Philippines will pursue promoting “stronger and multi-faceted relationships with all partners around the world.”
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