By Bea Bernardo
The Armed Forces of the Philippines will continue to conduct overflights despite the radio challenge made against the patrolling Philippine aircraft by the Chinese forces in the West Philippine Sea.
AFP Spokesperson MGen. Edgard Arevalo reiterated that the Chinese forces have always done this to the Philippine military while performing its function.
“It’s not the first time. And those challenges have been customary. Hence, our reply is likewise customary — that we are conducting routine maritime patrol over our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone),” MGen. Arevalo explained.
MGen. Arevalo underscored the constitutional mandate of the AFP to protect and defend the Philippine sovereignty and our sovereign rights. The AFP will conduct regular air and naval patrol aside from other relevant measures to ensure maritime situational awareness.
“And we will not renege from our commitment to dutifully perform that mandate in coordination with other agencies like the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and other relevant agencies comprising the National Task Force on West Philippine Sea,” Arevalo expounded.
Meanwhile, the AFP noted the decrease in number of the Chinese vessels spotted in Julian Felipe Reef.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea has earlier reported that 44 Chinese vessels believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia were sighted in the Julian Felipe Reef despite the diplomatic protest filed and the government’s call for them to leave.
However, hundreds of Chinese vessels were seen in different parts of the West Philippine Sea.
“We cannot readily say if the 92 vessels sighted in Chigua Reef and 84 in Gaven Reef are part of the original 183 first reported by the AFP,” MGen. Arevalo clarified.
