By Priam Nepomuceno and Raymond Carl Dela Cruz | Philippine News Agency
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday deployed BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) for a two-week mission to Batanes and Philippine Rise (formerly Benham Rise).
In a statement, PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said the ship will patrol these waters to promote “maritime domain awareness, intensify PCG presence in Northern Luzon, and monitor local fishermen.”
“We will also check the reported Chinese research vessels in [Philippine] Rise,” Balilo said.
He added that air assets of the PCG Aviation Force are on standby to help in the mission, specifically for aerial surveillance.
Earlier, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said two Chinese research vessels that were spotted in Philippine Rise are now outside of the Philippine exclusive economic zone.
Trinidad said the vessels just passed through Philippine territory and were heading in the general direction of southeast of the Pacific Ocean.
Probe sought
The National Security Council (NSC), meanwhile, said it has directed the Philippine Navy and the PCG to determine what the Chinese research vessels were doing in the Philippine Rise.
Speaking during Monday’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya added that a report, once completed, will be forwarded to the National Security Adviser and National Task Force West Philippine Sea chairperson, Secretary Eduardo Año.
“So that if it is proven that they were loitering there and they were doing something which is not allowed – and we will have to recommend to the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) for the filing of a formal diplomatic protest,” Malaya said.
While stressing that there is nothing wrong with innocent passage, the NSC official said it is wrong and illegal for these ships to conduct maritime or marine research in the area.
Also, Malaya said that it would be improper for these ships to loiter in the area.
“If they’re loitering there and doing something else, that is a different matter altogether,” he added.
Malaya also stressed that the Philippines is the only country that has rights over the area.
He added that any research vessels passing through these waters need to get Manila’s expressed consent before they can conduct their business.
