By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Following the alert issued by a United States maritime analyst that two Chinese research vessels were detected “loitering” at the resource-rich Philippine Rise east of Luzon, the Philippine Coast Guard (OK CG) on Monday has deployed the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) for a two-week mission to Batanes and Benham Rise.
PCG Spokesperson, CG Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said the BRP Gabriela Silang will patrol for the vicinity waters to conduct maritime domain awareness, intensify Coast Guard presence in Northern Luzon, and monitor local fishermen.
“We will also check the reported Chinese research vessels in Benham Rise,” CG Rear Admiral Balilo quipped.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. had earlier called for increased military presence in Batanes, calling the northernmost province “the spearhead of the Philippines.”
The Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL) said the DND chief wants more structures in the province after inspecting Naval Detachment Basco, Naval Detachment Mavulis, Itbayat Airport, and the Multi-Agency Facility in Mahatao.
Meanwhile, it was learned that air assets of the Coast Guard Aviation Force are on standby for possible augmentation, specifically in performing aerial surveillance.
To recall, former United States Air Force official and ex-Defense Attaché Ray Powell revealed on his X (formerly Twitter) post that Chinese vessels Haiyang Dizhi Liuhao and Haiyang Dizhi Shihao sailed from Longque Island in Guangzhou province on February 26 and moved east-southeast through the Luzon Strait.
Based on the map Powell showed, the Chinese vessels sailed between Basco, Batanes, and islands off the main island of Luzon.
(el Amigo/MNM)
