Jamaine Punzalan

Fishermen who joined the second Atin Ito-led civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177078516663420240516-atin-ito-wps-MT-52.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Fishermen who joined the second Atin Ito-led civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span> </div><p>MANILA — The military on Tuesday said the Philippines would continue to follow the “one message” dictum despite having an additional spokesperson on West Philippine Sea matters.</p><p>The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier appointed Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Rogelio Villanueva Jr. as its <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/9/dfa-appoints-ex-navy-coast-guard-officer-as-new-maritime-spokesperson-1827">new spokesperson on maritime issues, </a>reinforcing the agency’s central role in diplomacy as tensions persist in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said government spokespersons have a good working relationship.</p><p>The officials, he added, met last week during the regular conference of the National Maritime Council and other government agencies.</p><p>“He was a colleague in the Philippine Navy. He joined in 1994 when the Coast Guard was still part of the Navy. When the Coast Guard was separated in 1998, he joined the Philippine Coast Guard. We welcome him to the fold of government spokespersons and we wish him all the best,” Trinidad said of Villanueva.</p><p>Trinidad said government spokespersons would continue to have a unified message on the country’s claims in the West Philippine Sea and about not giving up one square inch of territory.</p><p>“We follow the dictum that one message, many voices,” Trinidad told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo. </p><p>“One message, but different messengers. So long as the message is the same, it&#x27;s more effective that way,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/10/ph-navy-warns-china-may-be-exploiting-political-squabbles-over-west-ph-sea-1328">PH Navy warns China may be exploiting political squabbles over West PH Sea</a></div><p>In a separate media briefing in Malacañang, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro defended the need for multiple spokespersons on the West Philippine Sea issue, pointing out that the spokespersons carry different messages for the public, ranging from policy to operational matters.</p><p>“Nagkakaisa naman po, aligned naman po kung ano ang gusto ng Pangulo — firm pero diplomatic. So, hindi naman po nagkakaiba-iba,” she said. </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/10/dfa-ph-coast-guard-remain-aligned-on-being-firm-but-diplomatic-in-west-ph-sea-palace-1651">DFA, PH Coast Guard remain ‘firm but diplomatic’ on West PH Sea: Palace</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/9/palace-does-not-see-marcoleta-s-statements-on-west-ph-sea-as-treason-1614">Palace does not see Marcoleta&#x27;s statements on West PH Sea as treason </a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘IRRITANT?’</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Trinidad said the Armed Forces of the Philippines would continue its transparency initiatives in an effort “to counter foreign malign influence and intervention.”</p><p>This followed a report on an alleged letter from DFA Secretary Maria Teresa Lazaro to Senator Risa Hontiveros, which reiterated that differences and disputes between states are “best addressed through established diplomatic channels rather than in public.” </p><p>Some security analysts interpreted this as implying that the transparency initiative had become an “irritant” to the DFA’s diplomatic efforts.</p><p>Trinidad refused to comment on the perceived effects of its actions but maintained the need to report what is happening in Philippine waters.</p><p>“I believe it is not for us to say what the effect our statements are. The stand of the AFP under the transparency initiative is to tell the story as it is. WPS is ours, we get hit by coercive and aggressive actions. There has been illegal presence since 1992 of the Chinese Coast Guard, the PLA Navy, and recently the maritime militia,” he said.</p><div><iframe width="1201" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V5APC6527RQ" title="Tarriela: &#x27;Kailan ba tumindig si Cayetano against harassment in West PH Sea?&#x27; | DZMM TeleRadyo" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="1201" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GU0-e6PchiQ" title="AFP says won&#x27;t cede &#x27;one square inch&#x27; of territory after Marcoleta&#x27;s &#x27;give up&#x27; remark | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The military on Tuesday said the Philippines would continue to follow the “one message” dictum despite having an additional spokesperson on West Philippine Sea matters.</p>

The military on Tuesday said the Philippines would continue to follow the “one message” dictum despite having an additional spokesperson on West Philippine Sea matters.

Military says ‘one message’ policy stands despite new West PH Sea spokesperson

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Military says ‘one message’ policy stands despite new West PH Sea spokesperson

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 11, 2026 12:51 PM PHT

|

Updated February 11, 2026 01:13 PM PHT

Read More:

AFP

Philippine Navy

Rogelio Villanueva Jr.

West Philippine Sea

Department of Foreign Affairs

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