Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela criticized Davao Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte for allegedly sowing “paranoia” over the country’s defense alliances after the lawmaker questioned the presence of United States military assets in the Philippines.
Tarriela responded on Sunday to Duterte’s statement against Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner, who said that a US-deployed Typhon weapon system in the country has a range that could reach mainland China.
Duterte had posted on social media questioning whether such defense cooperation serves Filipino interests, saying, “Who are you really serving? The Philippines or the CIA?”
Tarriela said Duterte’s remarks undermine the country’s vital defense partnerships, stressing that these alliances “are not gambles with Filipino lives” but “calculated steps to safeguard sovereignty.”
He clarified that Brawner was not boasting about the missile system’s range, noting that the AFP chief himself said the system is not aimed at any particular nation.
He further accused Duterte of “defending China” and echoing rhetoric that downplays Beijing’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
Tarriela said the congressman’s “insinuations of CIA puppetry” were misleading and divisive, adding that true patriotism means standing firm against external threats. He urged unity among leaders, saying Filipinos “deserve better than divisive noise and pro-China lines.”
Tarriela also reminded Duterte that his family’s silence on China’s harassment of Philippine vessels contrasts sharply with the government’s efforts to assert national sovereignty.
The lawmaker is the son of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who pursued closer ties with China during his term.
