Jonathan Frederic De Santos

A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship is spotted during a second civilian resupply mission of the Atin Ito Coalition to the Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on May 15, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17614517633541761451761342.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship is spotted during a second civilian resupply mission of the Atin Ito Coalition to the Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on May 15, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship is spotted during a second civilian resupply mission of the Atin Ito Coalition to the Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on May 15, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, on Sunday called Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte&#x27;s comments downplaying China&#x27;s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea &quot;divisive noise&quot; and a defense of the regional power.</p><p>Tarriela <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WPSTransparencyOffice/posts/pfbid0NuYqPiLAKDHtrp2ufmaBdVDnbv6bp7eGYaL6t8qBtDEXY4Nwv99ToRzLHskFA6bRl">made the comments on social media</a> in response to a post Duterte made on Facebook scoring armed forces chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. for &quot;gambling&quot; with Filipino lives by saying US Typhon missiles deployed in the country have the range to reach China.</p><p>Duterte also accused Brawner of working for the US Central Intelligence Agency.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/14/fishermen-in-escoda-shoal-experience-bullying-from-china-coast-guard-vessels-1832"><strong>&#x27;Parang magnanakaw ng sariling isda&#x27;: Fishermen in Escoda Shoal experience bullying from China Coast Guard vessels<br/></strong></a></div><p>&quot;If anyone is gambling with Filipino lives, it is those who pretend these threats are imaginary while cozying up to Beijing,&quot; Tarriela said on his social media accounts.</p><p>&quot;Your rhetoric is not about peace—it is an obvious defense of China, echoing the very regime that views our exclusive economic zone as its backyard,&quot; he said as he scored the Dutertes for &quot;[seeking] to mislead Filipinos into believing that standing up against China’s bullying is wrong.&quot;</p><p>The congressman&#x27;s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte had fostered closer relations with Beijing while being critical of the US and the European Union. </p><p>&quot;The entire country knows your family’s side stays silent on every harassment in the West Philippine Sea,&quot; the commodore also said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/25/wrap-as-atin-ito-ships-out-an-online-debate-rages-on-protecting-the-west-ph-sea-2031"><strong>WRAP: As ‘Atin Ito’ ships out, an online debate rages on protecting the West Philippine Sea</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT DID BRAWNER SAY?</strong></div><p>Brawner, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, has been quoted as saying the Typhon Missile System, the presence of which China has protested, has the range to reach China.</p><p>The Daily Tribune report that quoted Brawner also quoted him as saying the missiles are for training purposes and &quot;not specifically targeting China.&quot;</p><p>In response, Duterte accused Brawner of “boasting about missiles that can reach China” without thinking about potential military retaliation that would. He said the general was &quot;trigger-happy for another country&quot; and offering the Filipino people to China as targets.</p><p>“The real question is: Who are you really serving? The Philippines or the CIA?” Duterte also said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/23/planning-negotiations-for-acquisition-of-mrc-missile-system-underway-ph-army-1255"><strong>Philippine military plans to acquire US Typhon missile system<br/></strong></a></div><p>Caution and outright condemnation against US involvement in the West Philippine Sea and in domestic matters in general is not exclusively a Duterte talking point, with activist groups like Bagong Alyansang Makabayan protesting against the US and China. </p><p>They say that US presence in the Philippines could drag the country into its rivalry with China.</p><p>They also say that defense arrangements like the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces  Agreement have kept the Philippines dependent on its treaty ally and former colonizer.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;UNECESSARY PARANOIA&#x27;</strong></div><p>Tarriela said that Duterte was &quot;[stoking] unnecessary paranoia about our vital defense partnerships&quot; in calling Brawner out. </p><p>&quot;Let us set the record straight: these alliances are not gambles with Filipino lives; they are calculated steps to safeguard our sovereignty against real and escalating threats.&quot;</p><p>He added Duterte&#x27;s &quot;divisive noise&quot; is not what Filipinos need to hear from their leaders.</p><p>&quot;They need leaders who unite against external bullies and internal rot, not those who weaponize misleading narratives and pro-China lines to mislead and divide us,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, on Sunday called Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte's comments downplaying China's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea "divisive noise" and a defense of the regional power.</p>

Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, on Sunday called Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte's comments downplaying China's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea "divisive noise" and a defense of the regional power.

Tarriela calls out Paolo Duterte for 'divisive noise' on PH defense partnerships

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Tarriela calls out Paolo Duterte for 'divisive noise' on PH defense partnerships

Jonathan de Santos,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 26, 2025 03:38 PM PHT

|

Updated October 26, 2025 10:30 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Coast Guard

Jay Tarriela

West Philippine Sea

Paolo Duterte

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