We condemn in the strongest possible terms the illegal and reckless actions of the China Coast Guard (CCG) and its maritime militia on October 12, 2025, off Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. The deliberate firing of a water cannon and ramming of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel BRP Datu Pagbuaya—a Philippine government vessel lawfully operating within our own waters—was a brazen act of aggression. It was a deliberate assault on our sovereignty and on the Filipino people.
This latest incident adds to the growing pattern of Chinese hostility within our sovereign territory and Exclusive Economic Zone. It is an affront to the rule of law, to peace and stability in the region, and to the dignity of every nation that abides by international norms.
We call on China to immediately cease these illegal and dangerous provocations, to respect the 2016 Arbitral Award and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and to act as a respectable and responsible member of the international community—one that honors peace, cooperation, and lawful coexistence among nations.
During these budget deliberations, we will ensure that our maritime and defense institutions—the Philippine Coast Guard and the BFAR—have the resources and support they need to patrol, protect, and persevere.
To our fisherfolk who brave these waters despite constant intimidation, know that the nation stands with you. Your courage is proof that sovereignty is not just claimed—it is lived and defended every day.
Finally, I call on every Filipino to remain vigilant and united. The West Philippine Sea is our heritage, our sustenance, and our responsibility to future generations. We will never yield to bullying or fear. The West Philippine Sea is ours—by law, by right, and by the unwavering spirit of a people who refuse to be cowed.