MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Monday rejected proposals to equip Philippine vessels patrolling the West Philippine Sea with water cannons, despite recent attacks by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippine ships.

READ: China Coast Guard used water cannon on resupply boat — AFP

The Philippines has no intention to further increase tensions in the West Philippine Sea, the President said in an interview.

“No. What we are doing is defending our sovereign rights and our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, and we have no intention of attacking anyone with water cannons or any other such offensive,” Marcos told reporters in Pasay City.

READ: 'Kasinungalingan': Chinese 'lies' meant to justify water cannon incident - Coast Guard

Last week, at least two China Coast Guard vessels fired water cannons on both sides of the BRP Bagacay, which was on its way to Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag, Scarborough) to assist the BFAR ship on its humanitarian mission.

The PCG said the BFAR ship was also rammed by some Chinese vessels and harassed with water cannons.

But Philippine officials earlier said the country would not retaliate.

READ: PCG won't retaliate against China's water cannon use

“The last thing we would like is to raise the tensions in the West Philippine Sea… and that would certainly do that, so hindi natin gagawin. We will not follow the Chinese Coast Guard and the Chinese vessels down that road because it’s simply, it is not the mission of our Navy, our Coast Guard to start or increase tensions. Their mission is precisely the opposite, is to lower tensions.”

The Philippines has repeatedly condemned China’s use of water cannons against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

Some lawmakers on Tuesday backed Marcos Jr.'s stand, noting of negative repercussions if violence is met with violence.

"If we meet violence with violence mawawala po ‘yung strong position natin… Tama po na patuloy y’ung ginagawa natin nakikipag-ugnayan po tayo, we are looking for allies, we had recently the trilateral agreement with Japan and the US," 1RIDER Party List Representative Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez said.

"I think the President is very consistent sa ginagawa niya na we will not fight violence with violence, but, we are open to communication and to see kung paano ba natin matatapos na sana ito problema na ito," PBA Party List Representative Margarita Nograles added.

However, the lawmakers stressed that the Philippines should continue to assert its rights over disputed waters and strengthen alliance with like-minded countries.

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