Philippine ships start patrolling Scarborough Shoal

Two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships are now patrolling the Scarborough Shoal, the group's commandant said Monday.

PCG commandant Rear Admiral William Melad said the two ships, including newly-acquired 44-meter BRP Tubbataha and monitor, control and surveillance (MCS) 3010 boat, arrived at the disputed territory last Saturday.

"Their deployment to the Scarborough Shoal is in compliance to the instruction of Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade for the PCG to conduct patrol at the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)," said Rear Admiral Melad.

Melad said the two ships have already contacted the PCG headquarters and reported that sea condition in the disputed shoal was bad and they sighted only one Filipino fishing boat.

He declined to provide other details, saying he has yet to make a report to the Task Force on the West Phiilppine Sea.

He did not say if the PCG ships had spotted Chinese coast guard vessels in the shoal.

The disputed Scarborough Shoal, called Huangyan by the Chinese and Panatag Shoal by the Philippines, is located within the 124 nautical miles west of Zambales, which is within the 200 nautical miles of the Philippines' EEZ.

After his visit in China, President Rodrigo Duterte said Filipino fishermen may already return to the disputed shoal.

GMA News' Bam Alegre had reported that several Filipino fishermen have ventured into the shoal and returned with huge catch.

Melad said more PCG ships will be deployed to the shoal to conduct patrols. He said the ships will take turns in conducting patrol.

Among the ships that will be deployed to patrol the shoal were BRP Davao del Norte and three MCS vessels.

Melad said BRP Pampanga is placed on stand by. —ALG, GMA News