PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for West Philippine Sea concerns Commodore Jay Tarriela has slammed Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr. for calling for the abolition of the PCG, describing the remarks as “reckless, insulting, and deeply irresponsible.”
In a video posted on Tuesday, Barzaga accused the PCG of “corruption,” alleging it gave “high-ranking positions to undeserving officials.”
He also claimed the agency was “escalating tensions” in the West Philippine Sea and meddling in the China-Taiwan conflict.
Barzaga said there was “no future for the Philippines with the PCG holding power over our military” and claimed the agency “no longer serves the interest of the Filipino people.”
Responding on Wednesday, Tarriela said Barzaga’s statements “distort facts” and “disrespect the brave men and women of the PCG who risk their lives daily” defending Philippine sovereignty.
“As a member of the House of Representatives, to call for the abolition of the PCG and dismiss our existence as a ‘waste of government funds’ is both reckless and deeply insulting to the 36,000-strong PCG who serve this nation with honor and courage,” Tarriela said on X.
He urged the public to “discern facts from fiction” and support those “truly committed to defending national interests.”
Tarriela dismissed Barzaga’s “World War 3” warnings as “alarmist, inaccurate, and deeply irresponsible,” stressing that the West Philippine Sea issue is “not an abstract geopolitical issue; it is part of our national patrimony.”
“It encompasses vital fishing grounds, trade routes, and marine resources that sustain millions of Filipino families,” he said.
Tarriela said the PCG’s presence in the West Philippine Sea “is not an act of provocation,” warning that its absence would be “a blatant dereliction of duty.”
He reiterated that the PCG is mandated to uphold and protect the country’s sovereign rights under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral ruling rejecting China’s expansive claims.
Tarriela also denied Barzaga’s claim that the PCG hands out political appointments, saying honorary ranks are purely symbolic and confer no authority or operational control.
He added that the PCG, while an armed and uniformed service, is not part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines but operates under the Department of Transportation.
“To portray the PCG as a military is not only inaccurate, it undermines the principles of civilian maritime governance,” he said.
“Our men and women operate in the harshest conditions, rescuing those in distress at sea, enforcing maritime laws, protecting our environment, and standing firm against coercion in the West Philippine Sea.
Many have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. To trivialize their service as wasteful betrays not only a lack of understanding but also a lack of empathy,” Tarriela added.