Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela during a joint NTF-WPS press conference at the PCG Office in Manila on March 6, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

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/177216195843220240306-afp-pcg-wps-presscon-JC-8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela during a joint NTF-WPS press conference at the PCG Office in Manila on March 6, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The government’s approach to publicizing incidents in the West Philippine Sea remains guided by the principle of “one message, many voices,” according to a Philippine Coast Guard official, who said there has been no directive to tone down messaging despite concerns over its impact on diplomatic space.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/13/3-pinoy-fishermen-sustain-injuries-after-harassment-from-chinese-vessels-pcg-1435">3 Filipino fishermen injured in Chinese ships&#x27; water cannon attack</a></div><p>In an interview on the sidelines of the second founding anniversary of the Philippine Coast Guard - West Philippine Sea Transparency Group (PCG-WPSTG) on Thursday, Commodore Jay Tarriela stressed that transparency must be sustained as public awareness on maritime issues has significantly increased over the past three years.</p><p>Tarriela said there has been no order for government officials to soften their rhetoric on the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>He explained that while agencies share a unified message, they differ in delivery based on their mandates.</p><p>Tarriela cited the roles of the spokespeople of the PCG, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).</p><p>“All of us have different levels of messaging, and it represents the mandate of each agency that we represent,” Tarriela told reporters in Manila.</p><p>In a separate interview during the event, National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año reiterated that the “one message, many voices” approach reflects the varying levels of responsibility within government.</p><p>“We have tactical, operational, and strategic levels, so we cannot just talk about one thing,” Año noted.</p><p>He added that transparency helps generate international support and puts pressure on China to stop its bullying and harassment in the area.</p><p>“So, let’s stay true to the truth,” the official said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PUBLIC BACKLASH SEEN IF TRANSPARENCY STOPS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Tarriela warned that putting a stop to transparency efforts could trigger strong public backlash, pointing to survey results showing that 94 percent of Filipinos support the government’s transparency initiative on maritime incidents.</p><p>“It’s important to continue it because right now, the level of awareness of our fellow Filipinos is very high. For the past three years, they&#x27;re already used to it. They know everything that&#x27;s happening. They know what the government is doing,” the official said.</p><p>He then continued, “If ever, suddenly, we decide to put a stop to transparency, for me, our fellow Filipinos will have a pushback.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘TRANSPARENCY SHOULD BE INSTITUTIONALIZED’</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Año emphasized that the transparency initiative must be institutionalized to ensure long-term protection of the country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights, regardless of changes in political leadership.</p><p>“We have to take care of our future. We want to institutionalize this so that we will be able to protect our sovereignty, our sovereign rights, and at the same time, ensure that what we have gained will be protected and will be continued by incoming leaders,” Año stressed.</p><p>“This is for the good of our generation… This is our territory and our sovereign rights. We cannot give this away,” he added.</p><p>The official noted that the administration is backing proposed legislation to strengthen national security and protect the public.</p><p>“We have a lot of senators who are supporting us. So, the Anti-Espionage Law, we support that. The Foreign Interference and Malign Influence Act, we also support that. These are the laws that will give protection to our countrymen,” Año said.</p><p>He went on, “Now that we have the support of the people of the Philippines, we hope that our countrymen will continue to support us in our transparency and in protecting our sovereign rights.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WPS SEEN AS FUTURE ELECTION ISSUE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Tarriela also said sustained transparency efforts could make the West Philippine Sea a major consideration for voters in the next elections.</p><p>He noted that if the policy is maintained until 2028, public awareness and expectations would likely influence voters’ choices, with Filipinos seeking candidates who are willing to defend the country’s maritime rights.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/20/china-info-manipulation-may-expand-closer-to-2028-polls-officials-1332">China info manipulation may expand closer to 2028 polls: officials</a></div><p>“Of course, they will be looking for a potential candidate—not just for president, but even for the Senate, or even for their district representatives in Congress—they will want to have a politician who&#x27;s going to stand up for our rights in the West Philippine Sea,” Tarriela said.</p><p>“For me, eventually, the transparency efforts that we&#x27;re doing right now will definitely make the West Philippine Sea as an election issue,” he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kreklHk6SVw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cqcgN0uCkYc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The government’s approach to publicizing incidents in the West Philippine Sea remains guided by the principle of “one message, many voices,” according to a Philippine Coast Guard official.</p>

The government’s approach to publicizing incidents in the West Philippine Sea remains guided by the principle of “one message, many voices,” according to a Philippine Coast Guard official.

‘One message, many voices’: Tarriela says no order to tone down messaging on West PH Sea

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‘One message, many voices’: Tarriela says no order to tone down messaging on West PH Sea

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 27, 2026 11:13 AM PHT

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Updated February 27, 2026 11:14 AM PHT

Read More:

Philippine government

Commodore Jay Tarriela

transparency

West Philippine Sea

NSA Eduardo Año

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