MULING binigyang-diin ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez na ang West Philippine Sea (WPS) ay bahagi ng teritoryo ng Pilipinas at ang pagtatanggol dito ay mahalaga para sa pambansang kaligtasan.

Ito ang pahayag ng pinuno ng Kamara de Representantes na binubuo ng 306 na kinatawan sa kanyang talumpati kasabay ng kanyang promosyon bilang Auxiliary Vice Admiral ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Dinaluhan ang seremonya ng mga opisyal ng PCG na pinangunahan nina Admiral Ronnie Gavan at Vice Admiral Edgar Ybañez.

“Hindi tayo papayag na maging dehado sa sarili nating dagat. Hindi tayo magpapatalo sa sariling teritoryo. The West Philippine Sea is not just a political issue; it is a national cause, a matter of survival, dignity, and sovereignty,” pahayag ni Speaker Romualdez sa harap ng mga opisyal ng PCG.

Binigyang-diin niya na ang Coast Guard ang unang depensa ng bansa laban sa agresyon, pananakot at iligal na pagpasok ng mga dayuhang sasakyang pandagat.

“Habang may PCG na nagbabantay, hindi kailanman magiging pag-aari ng ibang bansa ang ating karagatan! Your bravery, your discipline, and your unwavering commitment to protecting our maritime territory define the true essence of patriotism,” ani Romualdez.

Bilang Speaker ng Kamara, sinabi niyang patuloy niyang isusulong ang pambansang soberanya at integridad ng teritoryo.

“In the halls of Congress, we work to ensure that the policies we craft strengthen our maritime defense, support our uniformed personnel, and assert our rightful claims in the West Philippine Sea,” dagdag niya.

“But beyond legislation, I believe that leadership must also be personal. It must be about standing with those who serve on the frontline: our Coast Guard, our Navy, our fisherfolk who brave the waters every day, knowing that our seas are not just waters; they are our birthright, our lifeline, our future,” giit pa ng pinuno ng Kamara.

Nagpahayag ng pasasalamat si Speaker Romualdez sa PCG sa pagkakaloob sa kanya ng promosyon sa Auxiliary branch nito.

“My donning of this rank is more than ceremonial. It is a statement of solidarity, of commitment, of resolve. This is my way of saying that I am with you, that I share in your mission, that I will use every platform available to me to ensure that our maritime forces, whether uniformed or auxiliary, have the resources, the recognition, and the respect they deserve,” sabi nito.

“Isa lang po ang tinitiyak ko sa inyo. Kasama ninyo ako sa laban na ito. Hindi lang sa salita, kundi sa gawa,” aniya.

Buong pagmamalaking sinabi ni Speaker Romualdez na dala niya ang bagong ranggo hindi bilang palamuti, kundi bilang isang panata ng kanyang dedikasyon sa pagtatanggol sa bansa.

“More than an honorary title, this promotion is a statement of commitment. It is my way of saying that I stand with the men and women of the Philippine Coast Guard, that I recognize your sacrifices, and that I will use my position to push for stronger maritime defense policies, greater support for our uniformed personnel, and the unwavering assertion of our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea,” dagdag pa nito.

Lubos din ang pasalamat ni Speaker Romualdez kay Admiral Gavan sa ibinigay na tiwala.

“To my fellow officers and members of the PCGA, I look forward to working alongside all of you, not just in title, but in action,” saad pa nito.

“In these times of great uncertainty, one thing remains clear: the defense of our sovereignty is not just the duty of a select few, it is the responsibility of every Filipino. And today, I reaffirm my dedication to that cause,” ayon pa sa lider ng Kamara.