By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Like the biblical story of David and Goliath, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has remained undaunted even as it has monitored over 135 Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels in the area of Julian Felipe Reef.
On Sunday, the PCG said in a statement that it first monitored 111 Chinese vessels in the area on November 13. The number later increased to 125, and by December 2, there were over 135 vessels in the area.
“The PCG maintains its unwavering commitment to safeguarding maritime security, safety, and the marine environment in the course of protecting the territorial integrity, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea under international laws including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the 2016 Arbitral Award and Philippine domestic laws,” the PCG said in a statement.
It added that the Coast Guard will continue to patrol the West Philippine Sea to protect the territory of the Philippines.
National Security Adviser (NSA) and Chair of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea, General Eduardo Año, directed the PCG to carry out maritime patrol in the area.
On Saturday, December 2, PCG Commandant Coast Guard Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, deployed PCG vessels BRP Sindangan and BRP Cabra to the area.
The PCG said it issued radio challenges to the Chinese vessels but ignored and they received no response.
(ai/mnm)