Philippine Coast Guard logo over a photo of PCG members on a rubber boat. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will do its best to make sure that the country will not lose “even a centimeter” of its territory, its new chief Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said on Thursday.
“We will not allow the coast guard to be part of any activity that will cause our country to lose even a centimeter of our territory,” Gavan said in an ambush interview after his assumption ceremony.
Gavan also vowed to strengthen PCG’s mandate particularly in the implementation of its main functions, especially the protection of the country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“I will remain steadfast in promoting our country’s maritime interests particularly of our country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights as well as in supporting the livelihood of our fisherfolks and other users of our sea,” the 30th PCG commander also said during his speech.
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China asserts that it owns nearly all of the South China Sea, including the WPS, citing its now 10-dash line which used to be a nine-dash line.
In 2013, Manila questioned Beijing’s nine-dash line before the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
An Arbitral Award was eventually issued in July 2016, effectively dismissing China’s sweeping demarcation.