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A Manila-based civic leader expressed his full support behind Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro amid backlash from the Chinese Embassy over his remarks on the West Philippine Sea.
"Secretary Teodoro is standing up for the Philippines,” said Chairman Jose Antonio Goitia.“That’s not provocation. That’s patriotism.”
Dr. Goitia is the Chairman Emeritus of four civic-oriented groups: the Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People's Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and the Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement.
He praised Teodoro’s stance in Singapore, defending the Secretary’s direct criticism of Chinese actions in the region.
“This isn’t about the US. It’s about the Philippines. It’s about protecting what’s ours. If someone keeps entering your house uninvited, do you blame the neighbors or confront the intruder?” Goitia said.
He dismissed the Chinese Embassy’s statement calling Teodoro “irresponsible” and “misleading” as nothing more than a distraction.
“They call it destabilizing. I call it telling the truth,” Goitia said. “We’re not trying to claim anything that isn’t ours. But we won’t apologize for protecting our own.”
Goitia cited repeated incidents of harassment and environmental destruction by Chinese vessels in Philippine waters.
“When a Filipino official speaks out against that, we don’t silence him. We support him. Because he’s not just defending territory. He’s defending our future.”
Goitia also called for a renewed regional approach.
“My four cents suggestion on the WPS: the December 1987 Manila Declaration among ASEAN member countries should be reviewed again, particularly on the principle of ZOPFAN—Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality in the WPS,” Goitia said.
“We will never get a positive response from China because their secret weapon is their veto power bullet in the UN Security Council. ASEAN and other regional groups should unite to revise the UN Charter, especially on the issue of membership and its functions.”
He concluded with a call for vigilance, unity, and pride in national identity.
“We can’t afford to be naive. The West Philippine Sea is not just a political issue. It’s about food, resources, security, and national pride,” he said.
“Now is not the time to be afraid. Now is the time to stand tall. We are not anyone’s pawn. We are Filipinos, and we will defend what is ours," he added.
