Manila, May 6 -- Work is never over," President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday, as he urged the newly promoted Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officers to "lead with purpose and serve with courage" as they continue defending the Philippine waters.

During the oath-taking of the PCG officers at Malacanan Palace in Manila, Marcos emphasized the Coast Guard's crucial role in protecting the country's maritime domain by conducting patrols and forging partnerships with foreign allies like the United States and Japan.

"But perhaps nowhere is your presence more crucial, than in the West Philippine Sea. Your continued patrols across the Kalayaan Island Group, the Philippine Rise, and our other maritime zones reaffirm our unwavering commitme...