AFP to deploy 3 more Navy ships to West Philippine Sea —Arevalo

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will deploy three more Navy vessels to the West Philippine Sea amid the increasing aggression of China in the area, its spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo said.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB on Wednesday, Arevalo said AFP chief General Cirilito Sobejana ordered the augmentation of its assets in the disputed territory.

“Tatlo pa dyan sa West Philippine Sea…for operational security. Hindi ko na lang babangitin ano, pero tatlong navy vessels,” he said.

[Three more ships in the West Philippine Sea for operational security. I will not say which, but I can say that they are Navy vessels.]

According to Arevalo, the AFP will continue patrolling the West Philippine Sea until Chinese vessels stops illegal fishing in the territory, and that it will “rally” all those who have the capacity to conduct the patrols over the disputed area.

“Hindi po tayo hihinto kung hindi humihinto ang Tsina sa kanyang ginagawang illegal na pangingisda,” he said.

[We will not stop if China does not stop its illegal fishing.]

On Tuesday, the Area Task Force West under the National Task Force for West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said the AFP through its Western Command deployed four Philippine Navy vessels to the area: the BRP Dagupan City (LS 551), the BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS 36), the BRP Magat Salamat (PS 20), and the BRP Miguel Malvar (PS 19).

They are providing support and assistance to the Philippine Coast Guard, which has deployed BRP Cabra (MRRV 4409), and to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, which sent two more ships in the area.

On March 7, around 220 vessels were spotted in the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea, located at 320 kilometers (200 miles) west of Palawan Island.

Based on the latest report of National Task Force WPS released Tuesday, 240 Chinese militia vessels were scattered in the territorial waters off Kalayaan in Palawan and in the Philippines EEZ.

Aside from these, six vessels of the Chinese navy, including at least three warships, have been spotted in the West Philippine Sea.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has been demanding for the immediate removal of the Chinese vessels near Julian Felipe Reef.

The Chinese Embassy said that the vessels are only “seeking shelter” near the reef, which they claimed is part of China’s Nansha Islands or Spratlys in the South China Sea.

The Philippines has filed diplomatic protests over the matter. — BM, GMA News