Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Carmelle Lacuata

ABS-CBN News

<div><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/h4DX6JuTpOE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>MANILA — Filipinos are neither racist nor liars, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday following renewed maritime tension with China, which has snubbed a <span style="background-color:transparent">2016 arbitral award that invalidated its claims over the West Philippine Sea. </span></p><p>&quot;Our unity and collective consciousness are challenged now greater than ever before. A common threat lies before us, directed against our dignity and self-respect as a people. Of late, our very humanity has been called into question,&quot; Marcos said in his fifth State of the Nation Address</p><p>&quot;Let me remind our friends and our detractors: Filipinos are a noble, kind, gracious, and great race. We are not greedy. We are not racists. We are not liars. We are respectful, and we are dignified. We are Filipinos, and we do not yield,&quot; he said. </p><p>Last week, Philippine and Chinese sailors clashed at Ayungin Shoal in what was the first serious seaborne encounter in months. Manila said China Coast Guard personnel had assaulted Filipino sailors near a beached vessel that serves as a garrison on the disputed shoal.</p><div><a class="fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/china-summons-philippine-ambassador-over-clash-in-disputed-waters-1449">Philippines, China summon ambassadors over clash in disputed waters</a><a class="fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/24/china-again-uses-water-cannon-on-ph-vessels-1142"></a><br/><a class="fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/24/china-again-uses-water-cannon-on-ph-vessels-1142">China again uses water cannon on PH vessels</a></div><p>In the same month, Manila lodged a diplomatic protest with Beijing over a &quot;racist&quot; video posted by Chinese state media portraying the Philippines as a cartoon monkey.</p><div><a class="fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/chinese-envoy-distances-beijing-from-china-daily-s-monkey-video-on-filipinos-0008">Chinese envoy distances Beijing from China Daily&#x27;s &#x27;monkey&#x27; video on Filipinos</a><a class="fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/philippines-clash-has-not-changed-south-china-sea-code-hopes-chinese-envoy-0820"></a><br/><a class="fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/philippines-clash-has-not-changed-south-china-sea-code-hopes-chinese-envoy-0820">Philippines clash &#x27;has not changed&#x27; South China Sea code hopes: Chinese envoy</a></div><p>Marcos said the &quot;final and binding&quot; arbitral award, which recently marked its 10th year, &quot;stands as a definitive benchmark for the interpretation and application of the UNCLOS.&quot; </p><p>&quot;This is not a claim that we advance alone, nor is it one that we will abandon,&quot; the President said. </p><p>&quot;Your government will do all that is necessary to continue upholding this Award, utilizing every peaceful and legal means available to the Republic against any attempt, foreign or domestic, to undermine this achievement,&quot; Marcos added.</p><p>The President thanked the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, and fisherfolk for continuing to protect the country&#x27;s seas despite the risks.</p><p>&quot;To them we owe collective gratitude and appreciation for they give life to the letter and spirit of the Arbitral Award,&quot; Marcos said.</p><div><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse </strong></div>

<p>Filipinos are neither racist nor liars, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday as he reiterated that the Philippines would never abandon the 2016 arbitral award that invalidated China's claims over the West Philippine Sea.</p>

Filipinos are neither racist nor liars, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday as he reiterated that the Philippines would never abandon the 2016 arbitral award that invalidated China's claims over the West Philippine Sea.

'We are not racist, not liars': Marcos says PH 'won't abandon' arbitral award

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'We are not racist, not liars': Marcos says PH 'won't abandon' arbitral award

Rose Carmelle Lacuata,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 27, 2026 05:54 PM PHT

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Updated July 27, 2026 06:03 PM PHT

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West Philippine Sea

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2016 Arbitral Award

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