By Junex Doronio
MANILA – Amid the ongoing incursions by Chinese vessels into the Philippines’ territorial waters, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela has urged voters to reject pro-China candidates in the 2025 midterm elections.
“We should not vote for pro-China candidates in 2025,” Tarriela stated during the Saturday News Forum held at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
During the event, he disclosed that three Chinese research vessels had been sighted near the coasts of Luzon and Mindanao.
The PCG revealed that these vessels have repeatedly entered the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), including waters off Siargao, a world-renowned surfing destination.
According to Tarriela, the vessels were first detected 257 nautical miles northeast of Santa Ana, Cagayan, on November 17, 2024.
They were also monitored twice within the country’s 200-nautical-mile EEZ—near Davao Oriental on November 14 and off Siargao Island on November 20.
“Basically, they just passed through. They never loitered. They entered, then turned away,” Tarriela explained.
As of 7:40 a.m. on Saturday, November 30, the vessels were last seen 210 nautical miles east of Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte, he added.
Tarriela identified the Chinese research vessels as Xiang Yang Hong 3, Jia Geng, and Xiang Yang Hong 10.
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