By Brian Campued
At least seven in 10 Filipinos believe that the government should continue to assert the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the latest survey from Pulse Asia revealed.
Conducted from June 26–30, 2025 using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adult respondents nationwide, the “Ulat ng Bayan” poll results released on Friday showed 73% agree with the Marcos administration’s firm stance in the issue amid the continuous aggression of China in the vital sea lane.
Only 7% of respondents expressed disagreement, while 18% were undecided; the rest of the respondents or about 2% did not make a stand due to lack of knowledge on the matter.
To effectively defend the country’s rights over its waters, Filipinos also expressed support to the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), as well as reinforcing alliances through the conduct of joint patrols and military exercises with like-minded states.
The Philippines commemorates the 9th anniversary of the landmark decision issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on July 12, 2016, dismissing China’s so-called nine-dash line in the South China Sea, which includes the WPS.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his remarks in various events and interviews, has consistently asserted the Philippines’ sovereign and territorial rights over the WPS in accordance with international law—stressing that the country will not surrender even an inch of its territory to foreign powers.
“We did not yield. We continue to protect the sovereignty of the Republic. We continue to defend the territory of the Republic. And we continue to protect and defend the people of the Republic,” the Chief Executive said in his BBM Podcast: Episode 2, reiterating the administration’s commitment to protecting Filipino fisherfolk in the region.
“Hindi naman tayo nakikipag-away. Pero huwag niyong binabangga ‘yong mga mangingisda, hindi ba? Huwag niyo kaming hinaharang doon sa teritoryo namin. Iyon ipaglalaban talaga namin ‘yan.”
Reaffirming commitment to defend PH territory
In separate statements on Saturday, leading government agencies renewed their commitment to defending Philippine territory in accordance with rules–based order in the maritime domain, nine years after the arbitral win.
The National Maritime Council (NMC) highlighted the importance of the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea in its continued efforts to challenge “illegal and coercive” acts in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
“The Award is binding, final, and cannot be erased or diminished, and is beyond the reproach of politics. It is now an undeniable part of the body of international law,” the NMC said.
“The Philippines reaffirms its commitment to assert its rights through peaceful, lawful, and rules-based means. It will continue to promote diplomacy and consultation, while safeguarding national sovereignty and maritime integrity.”
For Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. the Arbitral Award is not just a cornerstone of the country’s foreign and security policy, but “an irreducible truth” that “no amount of pressure, reinterpretation, or power plays can erase.”
“Let it be abundantly clear: defending our sovereign rights and jurisdiction is not an act of provocation. It is the sacred and fundamental duty of the Republic—an expression of our responsibility to our nation, to the Filipino people, and to the countless generations of Filipinos who will inherit this sacred trust.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), for its part, said it will continue to use the Arbitral Award as a guide for the peaceful resolution of WPS disputes.
“Along with the UNCLOS, the Arbitral Award will continue to be a cornerstone of Philippine maritime policy and the country’s unflinching advocacy for a rules-based order governed by international law.”
AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. called the WPS as not just a line on a map, but a lifeline that “feeds our people, secures our borders, and speaks of our dignity as a nation.”
As nine years have passed since the “world listened and sided with the truth,” Brawner said the AFP will continue to patrol the country’s skies and guard its waters.
“We do this quietly, steadily, and without fanfare because we believe in service that speaks for itself. We do this because when it comes to our sovereignty, there is no compromise.”
-jpv
