MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela fired back at former National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos after she told him to shut up and called him a “troublemaker,” questioning why she appeared angrier at him than at China.
“Tinuruan ako ng aking mga magulang na huwag magsalita ng masama laban sa matatanda. Pero since nagmumura na si lola, let me respond,” Tarriela said.
(My parents taught me not to speak ill of elders. But since grandma is already cursing, let me respond.)
“Una, your statements proved only one thing: kung bakit you were not able to at least be the National Security Adviser kahit one year man lang. Imagine mas galit pa kayo sa akin kaysa sa China,” he added.
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(First, your statements proved only one thing: why you were unable to serve as national security adviser for even a year. Imagine, you are angrier at me than at China.)
The exchange followed Carlos’ profanity-laced criticism of Tarriela during an interview with One News’ Morning Matters on Wednesday, where she defended Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan’s controversial remarks about Beijing’s military advantage over the Philippines.
“I want to tell him to shut the f*** up. Shut the f*** up, Tarriela. Get a duct tape and cover your mouth with that duct tape,” Carlos said.
“It’s sad that he has been identified as spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard, and he was always a troublemaker,” she added.
Carlos claimed someone had described Tarriela as a troublemaker when she was national security adviser and he was involved in discussions on the West Philippine Sea.
She also criticized Tarriela and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. for publicly commenting on foreign policy, arguing that such matters should be left to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro.
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“Tarriela, Teodoro, and their ilk have no business articulating anything about foreign policy,” Carlos said.
“That is the role of the President of the Republic, the architect of foreign policy, or Secretary Teresa,” she added.
Carlos argued that Jing’s remarks had been taken out of context, saying the ambassador had immediately expressed China’s preference for peace after discussing its military advantage.
“Assuming for the sake of discussion that it was … ill-spoken, not diplomatic. Still, when you take the totality of what he said on the stage and during the media interview, what he really said was really fantastic,” she said.
Tarriela, however, questioned Carlos’ criticism of him, suggesting that her remarks reflected the reasons she had served less than a year as national security adviser.
Carlos held the position from June 2022 until January 2023, when she was replaced by Eduardo Año.
The public exchange comes amid heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing following Jing’s Oct. 15 statement that China could easily prevail if it chose to use force against the Philippines.
The Department of Foreign Affairs summoned Jing on Monday to convey the Philippines’ strong objection to his remarks, which it described as provocative and unacceptable.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila has rejected accusations that Jing threatened the Philippines, maintaining that his statements were taken out of context. /dp /jpv
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