MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is still studying further steps to take, in view of the reported construction of a maritime rescue center in the West Philippine Sea, a ranking agency official said Thursday.
“We’re studying what steps might be taken or not,” DFA Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo told reporters in an interview in Makati City. As recently stated by DFA chief Teodoro Locsin Jr., he noted that filing a protest is an “active consideration.”
Both the DFA and Malacañang have yet to issue an update regarding the reported construction in the area.
On Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, however, assured that the Armed Forces of the Philippines continues to monitor the disputed waters, where China and other littoral countries – including the Philippines share contesting territorial claims.
On January 29, China’s news agency Xinhua reported that a maritime rescue center was built on the Philippine-claimed Kagitingan Reef in the Kalayaan Island Group.
