Manila, March 7 -- House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez has reiterated that the West Philippine Sea belongs to the Philippines and defending it is a matter of national survival.

Romualdez made the statement during his promotion and donning of his rank as an Auxiliary Vice Admiral of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Thursday night.

"Hindi tayo papayag na maging dehado sa sarili nating dagat. Hindi tayo magpapatalo sa sariling teritoryo (We will not allow ourselves to be disadvantaged in our seas. We will not lose in our territory)," he said. "The West Philippine Sea is not just a political issue; it is a national cause, a matter of survival, dignity, and sovereignty."

He said the Coast Guard has been the country's first lin...