What is the worth of a nation if it cannot defend its dignity? Chairman Emeritus Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia raised this challenge as he stood behind President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s declaration that Philippine sovereignty is non-negotiable.
“President Marcos is absolutely right,” Goitia said firmly. “Sovereignty is not a topic for debate. It is not a bargaining chip. It is not for sale. It is the lifeblood of the nation. And no country, no matter how powerful it thinks it is, has the right to trample on it.”
Goitia reminded Filipinos that this fight is not abstract. “This is about the future of our children, the food that sustains our families, and the security of our seas. When the President says sovereignty is non-negotiable, he is not delivering a slogan. He is declaring the will of the entire people who refuses to be bullied.”
He also warned that yielding even an inch would be dangerous. “The moment we allow compromise, we lose not just territory but our honor as a people. The Philippines must stand firm, and under President Marcos, we are standing firm.”
Goitia then urged Filipinos to unite. “Our fishermen endure harassment at sea. Our soldiers put themselves at risk to guard our waters. Our leaders take the weight of international pressure. The least we can do is to stand with them. Division is a weakness. Unity is strength. Sovereignty is everyone’s duty.”
The Chairman also pointed to the award-winning documentary “Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea” as a proof of why this fight matters. “This film exposes the truth that China fears. It shows the faces of our fishermen, the struggles of their families, and the courage of a people who refuse to bow down. You cannot watch it and remain indifferent.”
Goitia added that a more comprehensive film is also in the works. “A new movie is being made that goes even deeper into the daily trials and challenges faced by our heroes in the West Philippine Sea. It will show the violence and abuse committed by foreign aggressors, and it will articulate with great clarity our true rights under international law and the victory we achieved through the United Nations Convention on the. Law of the Seas (UNCLOS). The film is being produced by the Blessed Movement, headed by Chairman Herbert Martinez. This film is coming soon, and it will open the eyes of every Filipino to the full truth.”
This call to vigilance was further strengthened by the statement of National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año, who denounced China’s declaration of Bajo de Masinloc as a so-called “nature reserve.” He stressed that the move is patently illegal, violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), the 2016 Arbitral Award, and the 2022 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties. Año called it a smokescreen for control, noting that Chinese fishermen themselves have long damaged the area. He affirmed that the NSC fully supports the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) diplomatic protest against this illegal act.
Goitia closed with words that left no doubt: “The Filipino spirit cannot be negotiated away. Our seas are ours by law, by history, and by sacrifice. With President Marcos leading and the people united, we will never yield, never falter, and never be silenced. Sovereignty is non-negotiable. And the world must respect it.”
Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia serves as Chairman Emeritus of four respected civic-oriented organizations: Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement, through which he continues to advance the causes of sovereignty, reform, and the dignity of the Filipino people. MARISA SON
