Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20) – Senator Grace Poe on Sunday stressed the importance of loyalty to the country amid rising tensions between Manila and Beijing due to the latter’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

“Ang pinakamahalaga talaga ay ang ating katapatan sa ating bansa. May mga iba diyan nagsasalita na siguro dinedepensahan kung sino. Pero ang importante talaga yung ating teritoryo ay ating maipagtanggol,” she said at the sidelines of a ceremony renaming the LRT-1 Roosevelt Avenue Station after Fernando Poe Jr., her adoptive father.

[Translation: What’s important is that we’re loyal to the country. There are others who speak in defense of whomever. But, what’s important is that we defend our territory.]

Earlier this month, the Philippine Coast Guard’s spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela slammed Filipinos who justified China’s harassment and incursions, branding them as unpatriotic.

READ: PCG official: Don't use free speech to justify unpatriotic behavior

Poe continued: “Patuloy namang nag-iimbestiga ang Senado sa West Philippine Sea. Marami sa usapin diyan ay hindi natin pwedeng isiwalat sa publiko.”

[Translation: The Senate continues to investigate the situation in the West Philippine Sea. Many of the things discussed cannot be divulged to the public.]

Earlier this month, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution condemning China for its “incursions” in the West Philippine Sea and continued harassment of Filipino fishermen in the disputed waters.

The latest incident took place last Aug. 5 when the Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannons at Philippine ships conducting a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.