West Philippine Sea defenders honored at PCG's 122nd anniversary

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday honored several Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel who rendered exceptional performance, including those who upheld the country’s rights over the West Philippine Sea.

At the PCG's 122nd-anniversary celebration in Manila, the following accolades were presented:

During the ceremony, PCG Chief Artemio Abu expressed their commitment to defending the territory in the West Philippine Sea.

“Despite the dangers of operating in the West Philippine Sea, the coast guard continues to fulfill its mission of ensuring that we do not yield even a square inch our territory to any foreign power,” he said.

Marcos also announced that the government will acquire 40 patrol boats to bolster the PCG's capacity in safeguarding the nation's maritime territories. — Evelyn Macairan