INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday reminded the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to always be ready and aware in guarding the country’s boundaries.
He issued the call during the oath-taking of PCG personnel in Malacañang, where he told them that they are frontliners that should be ready to confront whatever threats are coming through the country’s coastlines.
“That is why we must guard ourselves, we must be ready and aware and industrious in the work that we do to make sure that we do not have any untoward incidents, that we do not have any mistakes, we do not have any misunderstandings that might cause the problem to escalate out of our control,” Marcos said, as quoted by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
“I’m confident that all of our officers know this mission, that all our officers know how to fulfill that mission. And that is why we continue to support you in every way that we can so our citizens feel safe,” he added.
Marcos noted that many duties that once belong to the Navy have been transferred to the PCG, which expands from their primary role of search and rescue and patrolling the boundaries.
“The reason for this is very simple. We do that so that we will not raise the tensions by putting in units and assets of the Philippine military into the area. At because sinasabi natin these are not military vessels, they are Coast Guard,” he said.
“But as many of the incidents have started to show over the past few years, that mission has become more, shall we say, intense. Now you are expected to defend not only the coastline, but to defend our nationals,” the President added.
Due to PCG’s mission, Marcos said his administration has continued to upgrade the agency’s capabilities, facilities, and equipment.
“This is something that is critical to the safety of the citizens of the Philippines. It is critical in the defense of the Republic. It is critical to the defense of our territory,” he said.
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