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Senators laud PCG stand on West PH Sea

By Benjamin Pulta

May 6, 2021, 6:16 pm

<p><strong>DRIVEN OUT. </strong>Joint teams of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Sabina Shoal drive away seven Chinese vessels on April 27, 2021. Sabina Shoal is located some 73 miles away from Mapankal Point in Rizal, Palawan and is part of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone. <em>(Photo courtesy of PCG)</em></p>

DRIVEN OUT. Joint teams of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Sabina Shoal drive away seven Chinese vessels on April 27, 2021. Sabina Shoal is located some 73 miles away from Mapankal Point in Rizal, Palawan and is part of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone. (Photo courtesy of PCG)

MANILA – Recent developments in the contentious West Philippine Sea, where Chinese militia vessels dispersed after being challenged by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), are the latest testament to the consistent policy of Malacañang to assert claims on its waters.

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go had said in previous interviews that as the chief architect of the country’s foreign policy, “President Duterte will always uphold and advance the interests and welfare of our country and our people. He has been firm with this stand that he will fight until the end for what is truly ours."

Lawmakers usually critical of the administration's policy praised the PCG and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) after driving away Chinese ships off Sabina Shoal on April 27, 2021.

Sabina Shoal is about 73 miles off Mapankal Point in Rizal, Palawan.

"We must not let our guard down. Since the 1990s, China has already made three incursions into our exclusive economic zone (EEZ): Scarborough Shoal, Panatag Shoal and now, Julian Felipe Reef. They are likely to do so again if we relax," Senator Panfilo Lacson, who chairs the Committee on National Defense, said in a statement on Thursday.

Citing reports coming from the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, Lacson noted seven Chinese militia vessels were spotted at the vicinity of Sabina Shoal.

The report said at about 9 a.m., PCG crew on BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409), MCS-3002, and MCS-3004 spotted seven “unidentified foreign vessels” that were later identified as China Maritime Militia Vessel (CMMV).

When the CMMV did not heed the order to leave as Sabina Shoal is within the country’s EEZ, the PCG vessels made an approach until the foreign vessels eventually left.

The PCG, with other personnel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), trailed them until they were off Sabina Shoal.

"The Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command and the PCG must continue to watch over the shoal," Lacson said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros likewise commended the PCG and BFAR.

“I would like to applaud the PCG and BFAR for confronting the Chinese. Considering the escalating tensions in the WPS, I know it couldn’t have been easy to challenge China’s ships. This reassures me that indeed we have good officers on the ground and in the water, ready to do their duty,” Hontiveros said in another statement.

“Sana mas dumami pa ang mga pagkakataong ito. Kitang-kita natin na ang papalayas sa mga barko ng Tsina ay pwedeng gawin at dapat lang ulit-ulitin (I hope to see more of that incident. We saw that Chinese vessels can be driven away and it should be repeatedly done.) I hope this inspires more authorities to do the same,” she added. (PNA)

 

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