Modernization also key to disaster response — PBBM
BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR and VICTOR REYES
PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday vowed to sustain efforts to upgrade the capability of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to better enable the agency to defend the country’s sovereignty and maritime territory and enable it to perform its important role in disaster assistance.
The President’s statement comes amid China’s increasing aggressiveness in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea, and harassment of Philippine vessels.
Marcos last month ordered the PCG to remove a floating barrier put up by the Chinese at the Bajo de Masinloc, also known as the Scarborough Shoal and Panatag Shoal, that prevented Filipinos from fishing in the area.
PCG vessels have been subjected to harassment by Chinese Coast Guard vessels in the past months. Recently, the Chinese Navy also harassed a Philippine Navy ship near the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Pag-asa Island is about 280 nautical miles northwest of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.
The Pag-Asa incident, the military said, shows China is raising its harassment activities in the West Philippine Sea.
The President, at yesterday’s celebration of the PCG’s 122nd anniversary, said, “Be assured that this administration firmly stands with you in your plans and efforts to improve, expand, and modernize the capabilities and services, so that you may better contribute to the security and welfare of our people and of the nation.”
In a chance interview after the event, he said improving and strengthening the PCG is urgent given the agency’s numerous functions.
“We are continuing with the upgrading of the equipment and the training and the capabilities of all our people, especially the Coast Guard, not only because they are on the frontline in the problems now that we’re facing in the West Philippine Sea but also because of the very important function that they play when it comes to search and rescue, when it comes to maritime incidents, when it comes to even disaster assistance,” he said.
Marcos inspected the BRP Malabrigo which has been the subject of a water cannon attack by Chinese vessels in August while it was escorting wooden boats that were delivering supplies to soldiers stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre near Ayungin Shoal in the WPS.
“Ito yung mismong barko na na-water cannon. Kaya’t nakikita naman natin na nag-i-increase ang ating capability para makapag-defend sa sovereign maritime, maritime territory ng Pilipinas (This is the ship that was water-cannoned. We can see the increasing of our capability to be able to defend the sovereign maritime, maritime territory of the Philippines),” he said.
Marcos said the government will have 40 patrol vessels similar to BRP Malabrigo to give the PCG increased capability.
The BRP Malabrigo is a Japanese-built 44-meter (144-foot) patrol ship patrolling the areas claimed by the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.
Marcos said that other countries allied with the Philippines, both within and outside the Asian region, are assisting the Philippines in strengthening the PCG.
PCG ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The President recognized the key PCG accomplishments in the past years, including the rescue of over 6,300 persons in distress; participation in anti-smuggling operations targeting 24 warehouses in Manila, which were suspected to be engaged in illegal importation and hoarding of agricultural products; conduct of clean-up activities; and ensuring maritime security and safety by maintaining 601 lighthouses in the country.
Marcos led the awarding of medals and ribbons to personnel and PCG stations around the country, led by those involved in upholding the country’s maritime security, promoting maritime rights, and securing marine environment and the safety of local fisherfolk.
Among the awardees were Petty Officer 3 (PO3) Jason Nicol and Seaman First Class (SN1) Joseph Rivera who were awarded the Coast Guard Cross Medal and Ribbon for their “meritorious courage, bravery and patriotism in the face of danger that resulted in the success of the cutting rope barriers by the Chinese Coast Guard at the Southeast entrance of the Bajo de Masinloc.”
Also awarded the Coast Guard Cross Medal and Ribbon were the BRP Malapascua was for the success of the PCG operations in the Wet Philippine Sea, and the BRP Malabrigo for it “meritorious courage, bravery and patriotism in the face of danger that resulted in the success of Coast Guard operations even encountering the water cannons by the Chinese Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea.”
PCG commandant Admiral Artemio Abu, at the ceremonies, said the cutting of China’s floating barrier at the entrance of the Scarborough Shoal is among the PCG’s accomplishments.
“We have intensified our maritime security operations in our waters. Our personnel have courageously dismantled the foreign floating barriers, which were illegally installed in the West Philippine Sea,” said Abu.
The floating barrier was cut by PCG personnel during a special operation last month.
China gained control of the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels. China has since stationed several vessels in the area and prevented Filipino fishermen from going inside the shoal.
Abu said recent events in the West Philippine Sea have “once again propelled the PCG into the national spotlight,” referring to the harassment of PCG vessels during resupply missions at the Philippine-held Ayungin Shoal. Filipino troops manning the shoal are staying at a rusting Navy BRP Sierra Madre which was grounded at the shoal in 1999 to serve as military outpost.
“We have stood our ground in the face of adversity. We handled positively the provocations, bullying and harassments of vessels on every re-supply missions to the Philippine Navy’s BRP Sierra Madre anchored at Ayungin Shoal,” he said.
Abu also listed as an accomplishment the installation of navigational buoys in some areas in the WPS in the previous months.
“Despite the great danger of operating in the West Philippine Sea, the PCG continues to fulfil its mission of ensuring that we do not yield even a square inch of our territory to any foreign power,” said Abu.
Abu also reported that the PCG helped in saving thousands of Filipinos in distress situation over the past year.
“After 122 years of its inception today, we are thriving, and we have gained relevance as an agency in the Philippine government,” he said.
NO BASIS
The Armed Forces disputed China’s claim that Philippines is illegally occupying Pag-asa Island where a Chinese Navy vessel harassed a Philippine Navy vessel out to deliver supplies to troops stationed at a reef last Friday.
AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar maintained that Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea belongs to the Philippines, noting the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
The Chinese foreign ministry on Monday said the Philippines’ “illegal occupation of Zhongye Island (Pag-asa Island) has seriously violated China’s sovereignty” and it is “reasonable and lawful for Chinese warships to patrol the waters near Zhongye Island.”
Pag-asa Island, about 280 nautical miles northwest of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, was occupied by Filipino troops in March 1971. The island serves as the seat of government of Kalayaan town in Palawan and now hosts hundreds of troops and civilians.
“What they are saying is according to what they know, what they believe. But it is already the arbitral court that says that their claim… has no basis at all.,” said Aguilar, responding to the remarks of Mao.
“So the 2016 arbitral award actually invalidates that claim so I think it can no longer be subject to a debate (who owns Pag-asa Island),” added Aguilar.
‘ELEVATION’
Aguilar said there have been instances when Philippine Navy ships were shadowed by Chinese Navy vessels.
“But this is the first time that they tried to cross the bow of our naval vessel… which is a kind of elevation of their activities… This is something new because this could be an elevation of what they have been doing before. They were shadowing us before already,” he said.
“Based on the report, the shadowing is a usual occurrence already but the (attempted) crossing of the bow is something new. In a way, that is innovation of what they’ve been doing before,” he added.
Aguilar said the military will continue to perform its missions in the West Philippine Sea even if China will again resort to harassment of its ships.
“We have to fight for what is right for our countrymen, for our country, and what is supportive to the rules-based international order,” he said.
Aguilar said Chinese may resort to similar actions in the future if they think they will gain something from it.
“But if they see that their image or reputation is being compromised… maybe they will be more careful,” he said.
Aguilar also said the military has submitted a formal report on the incident to the Department of Foreign Affairs. He said a diplomatic protest is forthcoming against China.
“I can assure you that there will protest that will be filed against China because of the action of its Navy,” said Aguilar.
