A prominent attorney has publicly accused Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commodore Jay Tarriela of overstepping his authority and dangerously complicating the nation’s foreign policy through his frequent public commentary on the West Philippine Sea.
In a sharply critical column, Atty. Rafael P. Tuvera argued that Commodore Tarriela, who presents himself as the “spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard on West Philippine Sea matters,” is acting as a de facto diplomat—a role for which he is neither constitutionally authorized nor institutionally equipped. Tuvera contends this creates public confusion and risks escalating regional tensions.
Constitutional and Institutional Overreach
The core of the criticism hinges on the 1987 Constitution, which vests foreign policy authority solely in civilian leadership, namely the President and the Senate. Tuvera asserts that when a uniformed officer like Tarriela becomes the primary voice on foreign policy, it blurs the lines of official authority and undermines the nation’s constitutional commitment to settling disputes through peaceful means.
“The PCG’s role is operational, not diplomatic,” the column states, emphasizing its mandate to enforce maritime laws and ensure safety, not to define strategic policy or negotiate with other nations.
Flawed Historical Analysis and Selective Blame
Tuvera systematically challenged several of Tarriela’s key public arguments. He disputed the commodore’s implication that U.S. absence is the root cause of Chinese aggression, noting that tensions have persisted and even increased despite the U.S. return through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
The attorney also accused Tarriela of “selective blindness” for consistently blaming China while ignoring provocative actions by other claimant states like Vietnam and Malaysia, and for presenting a distorted history that overlooks past diplomatic successes.
Warning of Proxy War and Call for Discipline
The column issued a stern warning that Tarriela’s “fiery rhetoric, disguised as patriotism,” could mire the Philippines in a proxy war between the U.S. and China. It drew parallels to Ukraine and recent Middle Eastern conflicts as examples of where aggressive posturing can lead.
“The president, as commander-in-chief, must remind his subordinates that discipline begins with self-restraint,” Tuvera wrote, calling for a firm admonition to remind the coast guard officer that foreign policy is “the exclusive domain of diplomats, not of clerks with microphones.”
The piece concluded by questioning Tarriela’s personal stake in a potential conflict, stating that in the event of a shooting war, he would likely be “behind a desk, while Filipino soldiers and fishermen pay the price for his showboating.”
The column serves as a direct challenge to the PCG’s public communications strategy and calls for a return to a more disciplined, diplomatically-led approach to the West Philippine Sea disputes.#
