MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday honored several Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel who had faced harassment from China while patrolling the West Philippine Sea.
Among those honored were the two PCG personnel who cut the illegally installed floating barriers in the West Philippine Sea, CG PPO1 Jason S Nicol and CG SN1 Joseph Rivera.
Both men received the Distinguished Coast Guard Cross Medal and Ribbon from the President.
“Let me first offer my profound appreciation on behalf of a grateful nation to the PCG for providing steadfast service and dedication to duty during times of calamity; for upholding our country’s maritime security and promoting our maritime rights; for fighting against the entry of smuggled goods; for protecting our marine environment and for securing the safety of our fisherfolk as they pursue their means of livelihood,” Marcos said in his speech at the 122nd Founding Anniversary of the PCG at the Port Area Manila.
Marcos also gave recognition to the crew of BRP Malapascua, who was harassed by a “military-grade” laser from the China Coast Guard (CCG) in February. The BRP Malabrigo crew, who suffered a water cannon attack from the CCG in August, was also honored.
PCG Spokesperson Commodore Kay Tarriela was also awarded the CG Distinguished Medal and Ribbon.
Other awardees include Floria Ricafrente for Coast Guard Non-Uniformed Personnel of the Year, as well as CG PO1 Ronald Empeñado for CG Non-Officer of the Year.
“Our personnel have courageously dismantled the foreign floating barriers, which were illegally installed in the West Philippine Sea. We installed additional navigational buoys,” Coast Guard Admiral Artemio Manalo Abu said in his opening remarks.
The ceremony was attended by the Department of Transportation Sec. Jaime Bautista, Senator Francis Tolentino, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, as well as United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, as well as other foreign envoys.
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