President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was unsurprised by Vice President Sara Duterte’s latest remarks questioning the government’s West Philippine Sea strategy, saying such criticism was expected given her known stance favoring China.
“We expect that from the Dutertes because they are pro-China. At ang Pangulo po ay pro-Filipinos,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro told reporters in a Tuesday press briefing.
Duterte, speaking during an engagement in Australia over the weekend, criticized the deployment of the U.S. Typhon missile system in the Philippines and urged the administration to stay neutral.
“The problem in the West Philippine Sea does not make up our entire relations with China. So there is no reason to lean toward the U.S.,” she said, emphasizing that the Philippines should remain “in the middle” and not get dragged into larger global conflicts.
She also warned that the country remains vulnerable to external shocks, saying: “We are not prepared for war, for global shocks—because there is no plan, there is no vision.”
The Vice President had earlier asserted she is “pro-Philippines and nothing else,” following accusations of her silence on Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea. Her relationship with Marcos has turned tense in recent months, after she resigned as Education Secretary and left Lakas-CMD, citing “political toxicity” and “execrable political power play.”
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines maintained that it remains committed to defending national interests. “We defer all matters of policy to the proper government agency,” said Philippine Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, who speaks for the AFP on WPS matters.
“Your Armed Forces will keep performing its mandate in furtherance of protecting our national interests all over the country,” he added.
Trinidad also confirmed the military is ready to secure ongoing and future operations involving the country’s natural resources, including the upcoming drilling activities at the Malampaya natural gas field.
“We are prepared to provide protection… and also security against any interference of any foreign power,” he said.
The Malampaya project, operated by Razon-led Prime Energy Resources, has tapped Noble Viking, a London-based firm, for the drilling of two new deepwater wells.
