MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela clapped back at Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, asking why he is directing his anger at him rather than at China for harassing Filipinos.
“Honorable Paolo Duterte, grabe naman ang haba ng post mo, at parang may personal kang galit sa akin. Bakit ako ang kinagagalitan mo, gayong China ang nangigipit sa mga Pilipino. Parang magkakampi pa kayo—pareho kayo ng linyahan. Pro-China ka ba, Sir?” Tarriela said in a Facebook post on Wednesday evening.
(Honorable Paolo Duterte, your post is incredibly long, and it seems like you harbor a personal grudge against me. Why are you directing your anger at me when it is China that is oppressing Filipinos? It almost looks like you are on the same side—you share the same talking points. Are you pro-China, Sir?)
The statement came after Duterte criticized Tarriela for resorting to media interviews and attempting to gather “soundbites” instead of having diplomacy with China to address issues in the WPS– even sarcastically questioning the spokesman’s education.
“Hoy Tarriela…kung nag-aral ka ba naman nang mabuti sa PMA (Philippine Military Academy), alam mo sigurong may tinatawag tayong diplomatic channels. Hindi lahat ng usapin sa pagitan ng mga bansa ay dinadaan sa media interviews at sound bites. May diplomacy. May statecraft. May tamang paraan ng pagprotekta sa pambansang interes,” Duterte stated in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
(Hey Tarriela… if you had actually studied hard at the PMA (Philippine Military Academy), you would surely know about diplomatic channels. Not every issue between nations is handled through media interviews and sound bites. There is diplomacy. There is statecraft. There is a proper way to protect the national interest.)
READ: We are in our waters: Tarriela hits Chinese Embassy
However, Tarriela hit back, saying his academic credentials are up to par and adding that diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines still continue as Chinese embassy and consulate offices remain present in the country.
“Diplomacy daw? Sino ang nagsabi sa iyo na wala na tayong diplomatic engagement sa China? Ang mismong presence ng kanilang embahada at consulate offices dito ay patunay na tuloy-tuloy ang ating diplomatic relations,” Tarriela said.
(So, they’re talking about diplomacy? Who told you that we no longer have diplomatic engagement with China? The very presence of their embassy and consulate offices here is proof that our diplomatic relations are ongoing.)
Tarriela also dismissed Duterte’s claim that he was applying his “own interpretations” on the WPS dispute, asserting that China is the one bending the narrative.
“Huwag kang malito: China ang may sariling interpretasyon ng mga insidente, ng UNCLOS, at ng 2016 Arbitral Award— hindi ako. Ang ginagawa ko lang ay ilahad sa publiko ang totoong nangyayari sa WPS,” Tarriela added.
(Don’t get confused: China has its own interpretation of the incidents, of UNCLOS, and of the 2016 Arbitral Award—not me. All I am doing is revealing to the public what is actually happening in the WPS.)
READ: A decade on, arbitral award remains central to PH sea strategy
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also known as the Constitution for the Oceans, serves as the legal framework for the regulation of maritime activities and resolution of territorial disputes. The 2016 Arbitral ruling, on the other hand, is a landmark arbitral award, which recognizes the country’s exclusive rights over the WPS.
He further slammed Duterte for being mum on China’s aggression and harassment against the PCG, even describing those being quiet on the situation in the WPS as having a “defeatist mindset”
“Nagulat ako na concerned ka pala sa sakripisyo ng ating mga sundalo, Coast Guard, at mangingisdang Pilipino. Pero sa lahat ng pangigipit ng China sa kanila, ni isang statement ay wala kang inilabas. At correction: hindi kami ang nagpapainit ng sitwasyon sa WPS — China ang lumalapastangan sa karapatan natin bilang isang bansa,” Tarriela added.
(I was surprised to learn that you are actually concerned about the sacrifices made by our soldiers, the Coast Guard, and Filipino fishermen. Yet, despite all the harassment they have faced from China, you haven’t issued a single statement. And correction, we are not the ones escalating the situation in the WPS—it is China that is violating our rights as a nation.)
Tarriela denied Duterte’s claims over the P10 million financial assistance he allegedly received monthly, further saying that the congressman should stop spreading fake news.
He then raised the alleged P51 billion worth of infrastructure project Duterte obtained under his father’s term, former President Rodrigo Duterte, as disclosed by the late Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral at the House infrastructure committee in 2025.
READ: District of Paolo Duterte got P51-B infra projects during father’s term
“Walang 10 million akong “ayuda.” Pero kumusta naman ang P51 billion na binanggit ni Usec Cabral noong nakaraang taon? Naubos na ba? Maraming naghahanap, lalo na’t bumaha na naman sa Davao. Huwag kang mag-alala— kukwestyunin rin yan balang araw,” Tarriela emphasized.
(I don’t have any 10-million-peso ‘aid’ fund. But what about the P51 billion that Undersecretary Cabral mentioned last year? Has it all been spent? Many are asking about it, especially since Davao has been flooded again. Don’t worry—that will be questioned someday, too.)
Duterte took to social media on Wednesday his frustrations over the public’s misinterpretation of his earlier statement against those “demonizing China”.
The congressman made the comment to oppose Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. ‘s call for government officials who side with China on issues involving the WPS to consider stepping down from their posts.
READ: West PH Sea: Palace backs Teodoro call for pro-China officials to resign
“Ang sinabi kong huwag i-demonize ang China ay hindi ibig sabihin niyan na kinakampihan ko ang China o isinusuko ang ating soberanya sa West Philippine Sea,” Duterte stated in the same Facebook post.
(My statement urging against the demonization of China does not mean I am siding with China or surrendering our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.) /jpv
The post Tarriela to Paolo Duterte: Why not direct your anger at China? appeared first on Inquirer.net.
