Marcos ordered the graduates to “keep our people safe in their homes, our territory secure, our defences against threats strong, and our democracy stable”.
“Against intruders who have been disrespecting our territorial integrity, we will vigorously defend what is ours,” Marcos said in the speech, which did not specifically mention China.
Beijing claims most of the South China Sea, brushing off rival claims from other countries, including the Philippines, and an international ruling that its assertion over the waterway has no legal basis.
To press its claims, Beijing deploys coastguard and other boats to patrol the waterway and has turned several reefs into artificial islands that it has militarised.
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Philippines seeks expulsion of Beijing diplomats over South China Sea wiretapping controversy
Philippines seeks expulsion of Beijing diplomats over South China Sea wiretapping controversy
China defends its actions by saying that it takes necessary measures against vessels it says are infringing on its territory.
Marcos said the Philippines’ conduct would be “always guided by law and our responsibility as a rules-abiding member of the community of nations”.
He has said that Manila will not respond in kind to the use of water cannon against its vessels.