President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday reiterated the Philippines’ unwavering stance in defending its territorial integrity, issuing a firm warning against foreign encroachments during the 127th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Navy.
“We stand firm. We will never tolerate any act of disrespect against our sovereignty,” President Marcos declared in his speech before naval personnel, top military officials, and diplomats gathered in Subic, a strategic naval hub near the contested waters of the West Philippine Sea.
Amid growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, the President reaffirmed the country’s commitment to protecting its maritime zones and exercising its sovereign rights in accordance with international law.
“We will not surrender anything, we will not abandon anyone,” Mr. Marcos said. “We will continue to safeguard our maritime zones and exercise our maritime entitlements, in accordance with international law,” he added.
The Philippines and China have been locked in an increasingly tense standoff in the West Philippine Sea, with Manila accusing Beijing of aggressive and unlawful actions against Filipino vessels and fishers in the country’s exclusive economic zone.
President Marcos underscored that Manila’s position remains anchored on diplomacy and the rule of law, asserting that the Philippines will continue to act as a “responsible member of the international community.”
He highlighted the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ participation in multinational military exercises—such as the Balikatan, Sama Sama, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), and Multilateral Naval Exercise Kakadu—as a testament to its commitment to regional stability and defense cooperation.
“These are aligned with our broader efforts to foster cooperation and to maintain peace—both within our borders and across the region,” the President said.
The Philippine military has also deepened bilateral ties with foreign counterparts through defense dialogues and recently hosted the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security.
Tuesday’s commemoration comes as the Marcos administration pushes forward with efforts to modernize the Philippine Navy under the Armed Forces’ Horizon 3 modernization program, aimed at enhancing maritime capabilities amid regional security challenges.