Retired generals, including former chiefs of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday asked President Rodrigo Duterte to retract two recent statements on the West Philippine Sea, saying such pronouncements "do not conform with national interest."
They cited Duterte's decription of the Philippines' win against China before a UN arbitration court as a "piece of paper" and his statement that Beijing was in possession of areas in the disputed waters.
The group is called Advocates of National Interest and includes former AFP chiefs Alexander Yano, Eduardo Oban and Emmanuel Bautista, ex-senator and ex-AFP chief Rodolfo Biazon, former Air Force chief Ramon Farolan, ex-AFP deputy chiefs Edilberto Adan and Emilio Marayag, former defense secretary Renato de Villa, former PNP chief Recaredo Sarmiento and ex-Magdalo party-list congressman and Air Force captain Ashley Acedillo.
"We would like to appeal to the President... to retract some of his statements which do not conform with our national interest," said Adan, who commanded military forces at the forefront of the fight against Abu Sayyaf extremists in the early 2000s.
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Duterte had repeatedly said that the Philippines could not afford to go to war with China over the West Philippine Sea, adding he was pursuing diplomacy with Beijing. He also blamed his predecessor, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino, for the state of affairs when he assumed office in 2016.
China had refused to recognize the Permanent Court of Arbitration's decision that favored the Philippines and invalidated Beijing's vast claims. Aquino pursued the case from 2012 but the verdict was handed down in June 2016, less than a month into Duterte's term.
Duterte's two statements "weakens the Philippine claims, it weakens the Philippine position if we contradict ourselves, we must not allow that," Adan told ANC.
"That will bolster China’s claim that it is in control, it will move towards its economic activities, exploration and that will be definitely against the national interest of the Philippines," said Adan.
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As of early May, Filipino authorities monitored close to 300 Chinese militia vessels still lingering in its EEZ or exclusive economic zone, where international maritime law grants it sole rights to exploit resources.
"What we're saying is war is not the only option, there are other instruments of national power that can be used," said Adan.
Rear Admiral Alberto Carlos, commander of the Navy's Philippine Fleet, said the military continues to bolter its presence in the West Philippine Sea area.
"Ang huli naming direktiba mula sa ating headquarters ay palakasin, lalo pang palakasin ang ating mga pwersa sa karagatan natin dito sa Palawan area, sa Wescom AOR," he said during the Laging Handa public briefing.
"Nagdeploy po tayo ng mga karagdagang mga sasakyang pandagat at ang ating Philippine Fleet assets ay dinala natin dun," said Carlos.
