UNDER THE 1987 Constitution, there’s a clear provision on the separation of the Church and the State. But when the national integrity and sovereignty are at stake, the thin line which serves delineation should be set aside.
This comes as two Catholic bishops stood by Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela for calling out China’s persistent bullying at the West Philippine Sea.
According to Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Chinese aggression inside the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone has adversely affected not just the livelihood of fishermen, but also caused the depletion of the fishing resources of the Philippines.
CHINATOR CAYETANO
Villegas also took a swipe at Senator Alan Peter Cayetano for shaming Tarriela “for standing up against foreign aggressors.”
“Despite shaming from pro-China politicians, your stand safeguards God’s people and future Filipinos. We salute your principled statesmanship and fidelity to oath,” said the prelate in reference to Tarriela’s gallant stand.
“This is not merely political but profoundly pastoral, affecting present and future generations’ well-being. I personally admire your fearless defense of our maritime zones, sovereign by international and domestic law,” Villegas added.
Tarriela replied on X (formerly Twitter) that Villegas letter posted on FB gave him “real strength and motivation as I carry on my patriotic duty in standing for our rights in the West Philippine Sea.”
PROFOUNDLY MORAL
Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David for his part lauded Tarriela’s heroism — “this is not only a political issue. It is profoundly moral and pastoral, because the livelihood and safety of our people, especially our fisherfolk, are at stake.”
David likewise commended the 15 senators who signed a Senate resolution “expressing our nation’s protest against China’s continuing acts of coercion and harassment in our waters.”
The resolution condemned the statement of the Chinese Embassy against the Philippines trying to grab the Kalayaan Island Group and the WPS that China claimed is historically theirs.
“May the Blessed Mother, Stella Maris (“Star of the Sea”) protect you, the Filipino fishermen and the uniformed personnel guarding the WPS, ” said Villegas.
CARTOON SENSITIVE
Cayetano recently criticized a caricature that Tarriela used in his recent academic lecture showing Chinese president Xi Jinping with the words “Why China remains to be a bully?”
“Yung pagkagigil niya sa akin, naibato ba niya yan sa China everytime hina-harass tayo?… Everytime na wina-water cannon ang mangingisdang Pilipino,” Tarriela retorted.
In Villegas social media post, he vigorously condemned China’s growing aggressiveness towards Filipino fishermen and local maritime authorities as well as anti-China Filipino legislators.
“China has seized vast seas, bullied fisher folk from traditional grounds with water cannons on frail bancas, injured our personnel, and militarized islands near our shores—violating our right to peace,” the Archbishop declared.
TAKING A STAND
Villegas stressed that the Catholic church’s stand is based on social teachings about dignity and defending our rights.
“The Church teaches that every person has ‘the natural right to be recognized as a free and responsible being,’ with freedom protected for the common good. Justice, inseparable from charity, demands defending legitimate rights,” Villegas emphasized.
“Despite shaming from pro-China politicians, your stand safeguards God’s people and future Filipinos. We salute your principled statesmanship and fidelity to oath,” he further said.
David noted that a significant chunk of the population depend on the sea’s bounty — God’s gifts now threatened by China’s encroachments. David referred and quoted Villegas’ earlier FB post.
VERY HOSTILE ENVOY
Meanwhile, Sen. JV Ejercito called for the immediate replacement of newly-designated Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan for the latter’s continued attacks on Philippine officials.
Ejercito said barely two months as ambassador, Quan has been “very hostile” in his dealings and utterances towards Filipino officials.
He however clarified that the Philippine Congress would neither condone nor be terrified by China’s abusive behavior towards a nation that is only defending its rights.
As this developed, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla met on Feb. 13 with the Quan to “deescalate” tensions between the two countries during Quan’s courtesy call to Remulla, citing “deescalation and cultural exchanges” were the only agenda on the table.
SCOLDING EMBASSY
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman on maritime affairs Rogelio Villanueva for its part urged the Chinese embassy to be respectful and to act in a calm and professional manner in its statements.
“While indeed the embassies have the duty to respond, the DFA urges that such responses be made in a calm and professional manner, conscious of the mutual respect that must prevail in all diplomatic interactions,” Villanueva said in a video statement.
He said the DFA values “candid and vigorous debate with its foreign counterparts on important issues consistent with the Philippines’ democratic tradition,” and reminded China to be “constructive in its statements towards a healthy dialogue despite major differences with a view to advance the overall bilateral relationship.”
CHINA TALKS BACK
In response, the embassy insisted its statements were made in a “calm, professional and constructive” manner to “defend the national interests and dignity of China.”
“We urge the Philippine side to speak with a unified and constructive voice and hope the DFA will play a constructive role in leading the efforts to manage differences and advance the overall bilateral relationship,” the embassy said.
Quan also denied acting rude towards the Philippine government officials even as he claimed that it was Senate President Vicente Sotto III and his colleagues who were being rude.
“When someone triggers you to react and you do not, it’s annoying! I prefer to be annoying,” reads Sotto’s brief statement over Quan’s rant.
MORE LIKE AGITATOR
Sen. Raffy Tulfo accused China of being onion-skinned when its coast guard and maritime militia are the ones harassing Filipino vessels and fisherfolk and making baseless claims in the South China Sea.
Sen. Ejercito for his part urged the Chinese envoy to “act like one,” adding that Quan should foster and improve the camaraderie and relationship between the two countries, instead of being hostile to Philippine officials.
In barely two months here, “Instead of dousing cold water to the fire, he’s adding fuel to the fire,” Ejercito said.
Kalayaan officials earlier declared Chinese embassy officials as unwelcome or persona non grata which the embassy and Beijing reciprocated by also banning the local officials from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
LOCAL LIVING HEROES
At the House of Representatives, members of the so-called West Philippine Sea bloc have filed a congressional resolution to declare the people of Kalayaan, Palawan as “Outstanding Filipinos of 2026.”
Led by Akbayan Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula, House Resolution 780 was introduced by Akbayan reform bloc Representatives Chel Diokno, Percival Cendaña, and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao; along with Albay District 1 Rep. Cielo Krisel Lagman and Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima.
The resolution commends 16 local government officials for their “courage, vigilance, and unwavering commitment” to Philippine sovereignty.
“This early in the year, the courage and patriotism shown in the actions of the people of Kalayaan are worthy to be hailed as Outstanding Filipinos of the Year,” Ismula stated.
“The heroes of Kalayaan have more courage than the Tsinador. They are the ones that we need to emulate,” Ismula said.
DIPLOMATIC PROTEST
The Chinese Embassy said Friday a diplomatic protest has already been filed against the coast guard spokesman over a social media post that included cartoonish images of President Xi Jinping.
The embassy slammed the post for “attacking and smearing Chinese leaders, a serious violation of China’s political dignity, and a blatant political provocation, which has crossed the red line,” the embassy statement said.
The embassy expressed “strong indignation” to the presidential palace, foreign affairs department and coast guard demanding an explanation for Tarriela’s “malicious provocations.”
Tarriela responded saying the (diplomatic) protest is “an attempt to deflect from the core issue: China’s repeated aggressive and illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea,” using the Filipino term for the waters on the immediate west of the country.