The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said he will wait for military’s recommendation before filing a protest against China after 220 of its militia vessels were seen at Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea. Locsin said in a Twitter post on Sunday, he will only lodge a diplomatic protest on China’s provocative action once the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sees the need for it. “Only if the generals tell me,” Locsin said when asked by a netizen regarding China’s vessels. “In my watch foreign policy is the fist in the iron glove of the armed forces. I don’t care for media. Undependable. And civilian”

Co, A. S. (2021, March 22). DFA to wait AFP’s go signal before filing protest vs China. Panay News, p. 10.