FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City (PIA) - - The country will continue to uphold its territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with  the Constitution and with international law.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. assured this in his keynote message during the 2023 Philippine Military Academy Alumni Homecoming at the PMA grandstand here Saturday (February 19). 

“The country has seen heightened geopolitical tensions that do not conform to our ideals of peace and threaten the security and stability of the country, of the region, and of the world. This country will not lose an inch of its territory,” the President declared.

 He affirmed that the Philippines will continue to work with its neighbors to secure the safety and security of the Filipino people.

 The recent incident at the West Philippine Sea that got global news attention came from a report of the Philippine Coast Guard last February 6 claiming harassment by a Chinese Coast Guard ship by directing a “military grade” laser at one of its vessels.

When asked in a media interview at the PMA if the laser pointing incident may trigger possible activation of the Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States, Marcos dismissed the idea saying it will only further escalate the tension in the area.

“Despite the fact that it was a military grade laser that was pointed at our Coast Guard, I do not think that it is sufficient to trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty. We are in constant contact, of course, with our treaty partners not only with the United States but also with our ASEAN partners and our partners here in Asia.”

“And that I think is the better recourse than to go directly to the Mutual Defense Treaty, which again I am very much concerned, would provoke the tensions rather than cool the tensions down,” the President stressed.

He said he has already talked with the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines and reminded him that with the bilateral ties between the two countries, incursion on maritime territories and aggressive acts should not be the topic of talks between China and the Philippines.

At the Alumni Homecoming program, the President led the awarding of the PMA Alumni Association Inc.  Lifetime Achievement and Cavalier Award, and Cavaliers Pandemic Heroes Award, and the ceremonial pinning of medals to Diamond (60 years), Golden and Silver jubilarians. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)