THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it was able to monitor the illegal presence of over 135 Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels along Whitsun Reef, also known as Julian Felipe Reef, in the West Philippine Sea.
The PCG said the number increased to 135 from the original 111 CMM vessels in monitored last November 13.
National Security Adviser and Chair of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), General Eduardo Año, directed the PCG to carry out a maritime patrol to challenge and document the illegal presence of the CMM in Julian Felipe Reef.
The PCG then deployed BRP Sindangan and BRP Cabra to conduct patrols in the immediate vicinity of Julian Felipe Reef, according to PCG Commandant, Coast Guard Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan.
As of this date, there is still no response to the radio challenges issued by the PCG to the CMM vessels.
Julian Felipe Reef is located 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza, Palawan, and is considered a low tide elevation within the territorial sea of relevant high tide features in the Kalayaan Island Group, including Chigua Reef, over which the Republic of the Philippines has sovereignty.
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 in accordance with international laws including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the 2016 Arbitral Award and Philippine domestic laws.
Admiral Gavan emphasizes that Coast Guard vessels will consistently patrol the West Philippine Sea in collaboration with relevant components of the NTF-WPS.