MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the Philippines will continue to uphold and defend its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, following an incident in which a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel was targeted with a water cannon near Bajo de Masinloc, off Zambales.

“What will happen here is we will continue to be present. We will continue to defend our territory. We will continue to exercise our sovereign rights. And despite any opposition from anyone, we will continue to do that as we have done in the past three years,” Marcos said in a press conference at Malacañang’s Kalayaan Hall.

“We have never instructed any of our vessels to back out,” he added.

The President’s remarks came after PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela reported that the BRP Suluan (MRRV-4406) was targeted by a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship’s water cannon early Monday. Tarriela said the PCG crew’s seamanship skills enabled the vessel to evade being hit.

BRP Suluan, BRP Teresa Magbanua, and the government-owned MV Pamamalakaya were in Bajo de Masinloc to implement the “Kadiwa Para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda” (KBBM) program for some 35 Filipino fishing vessels in the area. The initiative directly purchases fish from local fishermen to promote food security and maritime development in the West Philippine Sea.

During the operation, Philippine vessels and fishermen encountered hazardous maneuvers and blocking actions from other vessels, according to Tarriela.

Marcos stressed that Philippine authorities will maintain a defensive stance in the disputed waters.

“We will stop doing it when the threat stops. Tigil na ‘yung mga threats. We can all sit more safely at home. And mas magiging magaan ang kalooban natin kapag ganoon ang sitwasyon,” he said.