Defending the PCG against pro-China vloggers 

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.

                               — Filipino commedian and actor Alan K Simpson

PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela unveiled levels of the ‘fake news campaign’ on the West Philippine Sea, identifying social media influencers who are part of a campaign in spreading false claims on the country’s position on the West Philippine Sea (WPS).  

During the House Tri Committee’s fourth hearing, Tarriela said they noticed an increase in fake news in relation to the WPS for two years now and influencers or ‘initiators’ start the conversation that counter the actual narrative.  

The PCG official identified two vloggers, Anna Malindog Uy and Ado Paglinawan, as some influencers who have publicly posted pro-China content.  He said the former insinuated that the PCG is the one who rammed the Chinese Coast Guard vessel. Tarriela then cited articles of Paglinawan, calling the WPS issue “lunacy” and saying Guo was “disgracefully grilled” by senators.

Amidst these controversies, several groups came forward to firmly defend the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Tarriela  over the criticism thrown by Paglinawan, who is a former press attache and has tagged Tarriela and other national security officials of being under the United States influence even as he questioned the legitimacy of Philippine maritime  patrols  in the WPS.

The Ang Bumbero ng Pilipinas (ABP) party-list group with civic oriented groups Alyansa Bantay Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), Filipinos Do Not Yield ( FDNY) Movement, People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reform (PADeR), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LiPi) and Kalipunan ng Mamamayang Pilipino (KaMPil) cited that Paglinawan’s allegations are not only irresponsible but also damaging to our country’s national security. 

ABP’s first nominee Dr. Jose Antonio ‘Ka Pep’ Goitia disclosed that following the earlier statement issued by Tarriela condemning Paglinawan’s commentary as pure insuniation and misinformation, he strongly defended the PGG official’s integrity and credibility, describing him as one of the few officials willing to stand firm in defending Philippine sovereignty.

Commodore Tarriela, Goitia described, is not only a spokesperson but a true Filipino who has consistently shown courage in asserting our sovereignty.

He also questioned Paglinawan for repeatedly invoking Tarriela’s supposed ties to retired U.S. Air Force officer Ray Powell, whom Paglinawan has baselessly labelled as Tarriela’s handler is an unjust form of character assassination.

With the upcoming House Tri-Comm hearing on the West Philippine Sea scheduled next week, Tarriela challenged Paglinawan to attend and defend his statement in a formal setting, 

Goitia assured that they will continue to extend their full support publicly and will come to the streets if the need arises.

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