Senator Risa Hontiveros said that the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) intelligence fund deserves a raise due to the intense harassment it has encountered with the China Coast Guard (CCG), following her privilege speech, which commended the agency for the successful resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal.

According to Raymund Dadpaas’ report on MBC Network News, Hontiveros said that the PCG has received only P10 million as the annual intelligence fund since 2009, saying that the said amount is very small and covers not only the operation in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) but the entire coastline of the country.

Compared to other civilian agencies that have nothing to do with national security, such as the Department of Education, which is receiving a huge amount for the intelligence and confidential fund,

Hontiveros calls for support from the other senators to allocate additional funds to the PCG. She chastised China’s inappropriate propaganda against the PCG and the Philippines during her privilege speech.

Despite the aggressive and dangerous water attack by China on the PCG and AFP during the resupply mission, there are Filipinos who still stand with China, harassing PCG officials on social media.

With that, Coast Guard WPS spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela lashed out and called Filipinos who are in favor of China traitors."

This follows China’s continuous harassment in WPS, not only on PCG and Philippine personnel, the Navy, but also fellow fishermen.

Meanwhile, other senators promised to help the PCG get additional funds for 2024.