MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has deployed BRP Suluan, a 44-meter multi-role response vessel, to replace BRP Gabriela Silang in monitoring the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels operating illegally within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the coast of Zambales.

According to Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, the CCG “monster ship” 5901 was tracked 113 nautical miles from Zambales and 19 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc as of 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Another CCG vessel, 3304, was approximately 105 nautical miles from Zambales and 28 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc. It was later replaced by a smaller vessel, CCG-3103, which measures 77.7 meters in length and 10.4 meters in width.

Despite challenging sea conditions with wave heights of 2-3 meters, BRP Suluan maintained close surveillance of CCG-3103, successfully preventing it from advancing toward the Zambales coastline.

In a video released Tuesday evening, PCG personnel were seen radio-challenging CCG-3103, asserting that its presence violates the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

“CCG-3103 continues its unauthorized patrol off Zambales, currently 76 nautical miles from Pundaquit, Zambales,” Tarriela said.

He emphasized the PCG’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the country’s maritime interests and upholding international law without escalating tensions.

The incident underscores the ongoing challenges the Philippines faces in asserting its sovereignty within its EEZ amid increasing activities by Chinese vessels.

ia/mnm

By Junex Doronio

SEEMINGLY TAKEN FROM “KAPAG PUNO NA ANG SALOP” movie by the late Fernando Poe Jr who was his father former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s best buddy, Senator JV Ejercito has sternly asked China’s envoy Huang Xilian to go back to his country.

Ejercito was obviously enraged by China’s incursions into the West Philippine Sea that he wanted China’s ambassador out of the country ASAP (as soon as possible).

“黄溪连 大使，回家中國了！！！

(Chinese Ambassador Huang Xi Lian go home to China!),” Ejercito recently wrote in Chinese and English on his Facebook account.

Ejercito’s remarks last October 28 came following a series of China’s harassment of the country’s resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal, located within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is also expected to file a case against China for environmental damage in the resource-rich waterway early next year.

(ai/mnm)

Ni Liezelle Soriano

SINABI ni Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla na maaaring alisin ng pamahalaan ng Pilipinas ang floating barrier na nasa timog-silangang bahagi ng Scarborough Shoal kung ito ay nasa loob ng Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“Well, if it is within our economic zone, exclusive economic zone, then we will just declare it to be such and that it’s a violation of our right to exclusive economic zone, and we can remove the same,” ani Remulla.

Naglagay ang Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ng floating barrier sa timog-silangang bahagi ng Scarborough Shoal.

Sinabi ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) na ang floating barrier, na tinatayang may haba na halos isang kilometro, ay nakita ng mga tauhan nito at ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) noong Biyernes, Setyembre 22, 2023.

Binigyang-diin ni Remulla ang barrier ay nakasagabal sa mga aktibidad ng bansa.

“That’s interfering with something that has been granted to us in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. If it is within our exclusive economic zone, then that is an interference in our activities,” ayon kay Remulla. (ai/mnm)