MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday will visit the two Philippine Navy personnel injured during an encounter with the Chinese Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea, according to Palace press officer Claire Castro.
Marcos will also personally confer the Order of Lapulapu on the personnel and provide financial aid of P100,000 each, the Palace official said during a briefing.
READ: Marcos condemns China Coast Guard assault at Ayungin Shoal
“President Marcos Jr. expresses gratitude for the remarkable heroism of the two soldiers and their courageous defense of Philippine waters,” she said.
Marcos condemned the incident at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal but maintains that the administration will continue to pursue a diplomatic approach to asserting the country’s rights in the disputed waters.
“At this time, the President also needs to study the situation, but any fight for rights should not be pursued through violence. This is not about the size of your territory or the strength of your forces, but about standing for the truth and asserting what your rights are,” Castro said at a briefing earlier this week.
On Wednesday, Marcos summoned the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Jing Quan, to Malacañang to convey the Philippines’ condemnation of the incident. /mr
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