PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) commandant Adm. Artemio Abu has ordered the deployment of two ships to a shoal and a reef in the West Philippine Sea, where corals have been damaged by suspected destructive fishing by Chinese maritime militia vessels.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), disclosed the deployment during a briefing yesterday, a day after confirming the coral destruction at Rozul or Iroquois Reef and Sabina or Escoda Shoal.
Also yesterday, the US handed over to the Department of National Defense a brand new reconnaissance aircraft which the military said will be used to patrol the WPS.
The Philippine Air Force said the C-208B aircraft has “advanced ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) capability.”
The donation brings to three the number of C-208B aircraft in the inventory of the PAF.
Tarriela, at a briefing, said the PCG vessels ordered deployed to Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal “will conduct another maritime patrol in these two areas.”
Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal are 128 nautical miles and 100 nautical miles, respectively, from Palawan and are well within the country’s 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone.
Chinese maritime militia vessels have swarmed these areas in the past months, prompting officials to speculate that these vessels could be behind the destruction of the corals.
Tarriela stressed the PCG has no “clear proof” to directly point to the Chinese maritime militia as behind the destruction of corals. What is certain, he said, is that the Chinese were in these areas from August to September.
“They were there in that particular area… right after they left, that’s the time we conducted underwater survey…That is circumstantial (evidence) but again we still don’t have enough direct evidence to directly pinpoint to the Chinese maritime militia,” he said.
“But some are saying that their presence might be one of the contributing factors why the corals there were destroyed. We still don’t know, that’s why as I said ‘no we are still going to coordinate with marine scientists… to understand what is happening in this particular shoal and reef,” he added.
The military first disclosed the destruction of corals at Rozul Reef last Saturday. On Monday, Tarriela confirmed the “severe damage” of the marine environment and coral reef at Rozul Reef and at Escoda Shoal based on recent underwater survey.
Even before the discovery of the coral damage at the shoal and at the reef, PCG and Philippine Navy ships have been conducting maritime patrols in the WPS to protect the country’s interest in the disputed area.
Tarriela said the PCG ships deployed to the WPS will also be doing follow-up underwater surveys at Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal “for us to have a much clearer understanding of the extent of the damage.”
He said the PCG is collaborating with other agencies, including the UP Marine Science Institute, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to determine the extent and cost of the coral destruction at the reef and shoal.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, in an ambush interview in Pampanga, said the government is validating the destruction of the corals.
“We have to validate it because according to the arbitral award, that is a violation of an international treaty – the destruction of maritime life particularly if the coral destruction is a cause of, or used for, reclamation of artificial islands etc.,” he said.
“Now, we have to validate it and then we’ll coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs so that we can file the appropriate action,” he added.
ECOSYSTEMS
US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson expressed alarm over the reported destruction of marine resources.
“Habitat damage harms ecosystems and negatively affects lives and livelihoods,” Carlson said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“We are working with our friends, partners and allies to protect Philippine natural resources,” she said.
Earlier, Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko said, “Very alarming news. Our oceans are the lifeblood of our planet, and coral reefs are its colorful heartbeats. Let’s preserve and protect these vital ecosystems for generations to come.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs, in a statement late Monday, expressed “serious concern” over the destruction of corals and reefs in the WPS.
“We are seriously concerned about reports of the destruction of corals in Rozul Reef, a maritime feature located in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said, adding Manila has “consistently and repeatedly” raised the alarm over ecologically harmful activities conducted by foreign vessels in the country’s maritime zones.
“We, therefore, call on everyone concerned to act responsibly and cease all activities that can damage our precious marine environment. The well-being of millions of people who depend on the South China Sea for their livelihood is at stake,” she added.
Daza did not say if the DFA has filed a diplomatic protest against China.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said it is time to file a case against China before international tribunals on its alleged massive coral harvesting and destruction of reefs in the WPS.
He said he will discuss the issue with Malacañang at the “soonest possible time.’
“It’s a ripe case for adjudication… we can go on and tap the best legal experts in the country to help us. We have the best access to the best of the environment lawyers. We will pursue these cases against China,” he said adding the government has been gathering evidence against China’s destructive activities in the WPS for many years now but the documentation gathered pace only in the last few months.
Remulla did not say what international tribunal the country will lodge the case with.
NEW AIRCRAFT
Teodoro received documents of the C-208B aircraft donated by the US from Col. Edward Evans, chief of the Joint US Military Assistance Group, during rites at the Clark Air Base in Pampanga.
Teodoro then turned over the documents to Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr who later handed the documents over to Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Stephen Parreño.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said the C-208B “is known for its rugged utility and flexibility” and can operate up to 912 nautical miles and can stay airborne for five-and-a-half hours.
The PAF said the aircraft will be assigned to the 300th Air Intelligence and Security Wing, under Brig. Gen. Edgar Torres.
The first two C-208B were transferred to the PAF in August 2017.
Teodoro said the newly-delivered aircraft will be used “for all types of operations.”
Pressed if the aircraft will be used in the conduct of aerial patrols in the WPS, Teodoro curtly replied, “Yes.”
“Yes, definitely,” Brawner said, when asked if the aircraft will be conducting patrols in the WPS. “This aircraft will boost our capability of patrolling our maritime seas”
Citing information from AFP Western Command chief Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, Brawner said “our ability to protect our sovereign rights in our exclusive economic zone depends highly on the equipment that we have.
“So definitely this aircraft will help us, will boost our capability in making sure that we secure our territory and our sovereign rights,” said Brawner. — With Ashzel Hachero
