MANILA — Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said Wednesday he was “friends already” with SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta after their heated exchange about the lawmaker’s remark that "there is nothing as West Philippine Sea" on maps.

During a House hearing on Tuesday about online disinformation, Marcoleta asked about claims on social media that Tarriela supposedly tagged him as a "traitor", which the PCG spokesperson denied.

Pressed to explain why he did not correct the wrong information, Tarriela said he only learned about it after Marcoleta's February 10 interview, where the lawmaker called him ignorant.

"The only time I learned about that, was when I heard about your interview calling me g*go and mangmang. Why would I even defend you if you're calling me g*go?" Tarriela replied.

Confronted by Marcoleta, Tarriela retorts: 'Why would I defend you when you're calling me g*go?'

He said that after this exchange, Marcoleta approached him and “we shook hands.”

“Sabi niya, ‘nothing personal.’ Sabi ko naman, ‘At least we clarified, sir, na I never really called you traitor.’ Okay naman yung naging usapan namin,” Tarriela told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

“Close na kami ni Cong. Marcoleta. So I’d like to greet him good morning, Congressman Marcoleta, sir. Nothing personal, as you said. We’re friends already.” 

Asked if they had resolved their disagreement on Marcoleta’s position about the legitimacy of the West Philippine Sea, Tarriela said: “Para sa ‘kin, the mere fact that Congressman Marcoleta is saying that this part of our waters is something that is really worth fighting [for] up to the last drop of our blood, kinikilala niyang atin ito without really calling it [West Philippine Sea]… Okay na rin ‘yun.”

“At least nire-recognize niyang that is our exclusive economic zone,” he said.

The coast guard official said it was “very important for us [Filipinos] to be united in this issue.”

“Otherwise, itong sinasabi ng China na hindi atin ito, they have a historical claim over this, it would be very difficult for President Bongbong Marcos to push for this commitment na hindi talaga isusuko ang West Philippine Sea,” he said.

China claims the South China Sea almost in its entirety, including parts of the West Philippine Sea, despite an international ruling in 2016 concluding this has no legal basis.

On Tuesday, the PCG condemned "dangerous" maneuvers by a Chinese Navy helicopter that flew within three meters of a Philippine surveillance flight over Bajo de Masinloc.

Philippines to protest 'dangerous' China helicopter maneuvers: official