Newly installed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said he finds “very alarming” the new Chinese law allowing its coast guard to fire at perceived intruders in what China considers its territorial waters in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea. “I should say it’s a very irresponsible statement because we, our countrymen, don’t go there to wage war, but to make a living,” Sobejana said at a briefing yesterday. He said the nation may rest assured the AFP would perform its mandate to protect the people by increasing patrols in the West Philippine Sea.

Punongbayan, M., & Lee-Brago, P. (2021, February 10). AFP chief 'alarmed' at a new China coast guard law. The Philippine Star, p. 5.