In his first remarks on the June 17 incident, which saw the China Coast Guard (CCG) attacking a Philippine resupply mission bound for Ayungin Shoal, Marcos said history would show that Filipinos have never yielded to any foreign power, and they owe it to their forefathers to keep the freedoms they "fought, bled and died for." But he maintained that the Philippines is a "responsible state" and would continue to exercise its freedoms and rights in support of its national interest, in accordance with international law. "We are not in the business to instigate wars our ambition is to provide a peaceful and prosperous life for every Filipino. This is the drum beat, this is the principle we live by and that we march by," Marcos told members of the Palawan-based Armed Forces Western Command (WESCOM), the military unit that secures the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Romero, A., Lee-Brago, P., Villeza, M. E., Cariaso, B. (2024, June 24). Phl won't instigate war in WPS - BBM. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 4.