“It is ours,” says Petilla
TACLOBAN CITY – The mayors of Leyte province have joined the national call to assert the country’s sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), emphasizing the need to protect Philippine waters and maritime resources from external threats.
Palo Mayor Remedios “Matin” Petilla, president of the League of Municipalities-Leyte chapter, underscored the province’s unified stance in support of the national government’s efforts to defend the country’s maritime territory amid ongoing tensions in the region.
“We should protect the West Philippine Sea. It is ours. It is just right to assert our rights and protect the people there,” Petilla said in an interview on Monday, March 3.
She also commended the administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. for its strong stance against Chinese incursions into Philippine waters.
“We appreciate our government under PBBM for taking decisive steps to assert and defend the WPS,” she added.
Petilla stressed that all mayors in Leyte firmly support the Philippine government’s rightful claim to the WPS, recognizing its strategic importance in national security, economic stability, and the livelihood of Filipino fisherfolk.
Leyte, which faces the Pacific Ocean, holds historical significance in maritime conflicts.
The province witnessed the largest naval battle of World War II, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which played a crucial role in liberating the Philippines from Japanese occupation.
Local leaders see a parallel in the ongoing territorial struggle over the WPS, where Filipino fishermen and security forces confront challenges posed by foreign incursions.
In Southern Leyte, officials in the coastal municipality of Hinunangan have likewise expressed their solidarity with the national government on the WPS issue.
Mayor Reynaldo Fernandez emphasized the importance of defending Philippine sovereignty.
“There’s no pride like defending our own,” Fernandez said in an earlier media interview. “When other nations are claiming what is rightfully ours, we should provide the necessary support to those who are protecting our territories.”
According to Fernandez, the town council of Hinunangan passed a resolution as early as September last year, affirming their support for the government’s stance on the WPS.
The resolution also backed security personnel, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who are at the forefront of maritime defense efforts.
Vice Mayor Marian Pelin further highlighted the impact of the dispute on the livelihoods of local fisherfolk.
“We carry the same sentiments for the fishers whose livelihoods are affected by this territorial conflict. Almost half of our town depends on the sea for food and income. If we can protect our own fisherfolk here, we are also extending our support to those defending our people and resources in the WPS,” Pelin said.
Hinunangan, a coastal municipality, has 14 of its 40 villages reliant on marine resources for food security, economic sustenance, and tourism.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has previously urged local governments to support efforts to protect the WPS, emphasizing the importance of national unity in safeguarding the country’s marine resources and territorial integrity.
JOEY A. GABIETA, ROEL T. AMAZONA
