Locsin rejects PCG’s request for own attaché in Washington

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. rejected yesterday a proposal of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to have its own attaché in Washington.

In an interview with CNN-Philippines, Locsin said he sees “no reason for it” as the country already has a defense attaché for national defense issues.

“No need for them to be there,” the DFA chief said.

“I can imagine that there would be a Canadian Coast Guard attaché because the US and Canada have had border disputes and other issues that involve the use of the coast guards of either country or both and I can see a point for that,” he said.

“But I don’t even know if Canada has a Coast Guard attaché,” he said.

Locsin earlier turned down the idea of assigning a PCG attaché in Beijing.

“I say no. Especially, I do not want it in Beijing for this reason,” he said.

“What does that mean? That means that the Coast Guard, which basically interdicts Chinese incursions, now it will take upon itself to be in Beijing, and whenever the Chinese want to make a naval movement and anywhere within our territory, they can discuss it with the Coast Guard?” Locsin said.

“Excuse me, you only discuss it with me,” he said.

“The Coast Guard is an instrumentality of the policy we make, they do not make policies,” Locsin said.

In a Tweet late Thursday, the country’s top diplomat said the PCG recently applied for a Coast Guard attaché in the US.

“The Washington request is likewise rejected and don’t ever go behind my back. We don’t share a coastline with the US like Canada does. So no, nunca, never,” Locsin said.

The PCG on Thursday said it respects the decision of the DFA to reject the designation of a PCG attaché in China but said having one would boost maritime cooperation between the two countries.

PCG Commodore Armand Balilo said that they respected the decision of Secretary Locsin when he rejected their request, but that the coast guard will look for alternative solutions and will continue to find ways to further secure the country’s maritime domain.

Balilo’s statement came after Locsin said on his official twitter account (@teddyboylocsin) that he declined PCG’s request to have its own attaché in Beijing embassy, as it means that the Philippines “concedes exclusive sovereignty over our coastal waters.”

“Ph Coast Guard wants [its] own attaché in [the] Beijing Embassy. Flat No. We have a defense attaché for national defense issues. A separate Coast Guard attaché means we concede exclusive sovereignty over our coastal waters so they are now subject to discussion instead of automatic protest,” Locsin said on twitter. – Robertzon Ramirez