By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
A top official of the Philippine Coast Guard said disinformation is one of the biggest threats to Philippine sovereignty, especially amid rising tensions with China over the West Philippine Sea.
PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said their primary challenge is not the “overwhelming number of Chinese maritime forces” but the widespread disinformation on social media pushed by pro-China sources.
Tarriela said young Filipinos, who are highly active online, can play a crucial role in combating these false narratives that aim to confuse and divide the public.
“The biggest challenge that we have is the spread of disinformation and fake news,” he said.
“If our youth use their social media accounts to counter misinformation and report false posts for takedown, that would already be a significant contribution,” he added.
Tarriela also emphasized the youth’s influence in elections, saying it is vital to support leaders who will defend Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.
“We have to make them understand that they need to elect members of the Senate and Congress, and leaders of local government units, who are not pro-China,” he said.
He noted that the WPS issue is intergenerational, underscoring the need to educate and involve the youth in protecting the country’s rights in the contested waters.
Meanwhile, National Youth Commission Commissioner-at-Large Assistant Secretary Karl Legazpi said they want the WPS issue to become a national concern.
“We want it to become a national issue that can help foster a spirit of nationalism for our youth,” he said.
“Because we’re having a hard time expressing the modern forms of love for our country,” he added.
Tarriela and Legazpi were in Iloilo City to discuss the strategic importance of the West Philippine Sea for national security and the protection of the country’s maritime interests.
