Philippine military not intimidated by China's challenges at West Philippine Sea —Sobejana

The Philippine military on Tuesday said the country's security forces are not intimidated by Chinese incursions at the West Philippine Sea, adding that they are prepared for the challenges from the Asian country.

"Hindi po tayo nai-intimidate sa mga challenges (ng China). Challenge lang kasi ang ano, tina-challenge lang ‘yung ating mga (Philippine) Navy, e hindi po tayo nagpapadala r’on. Tuloy tuloy po ‘yung ating pagreresuply, so tina-challenge din natin sila (China). May counter challenge din tayo sa kanila na hindi po sa kanila itong West Philippine Sea kundi pagmamayari ng Pilipinas," Armed Forces chief General Cirilito Sobejana told Super Radyo dzBB.

(We are not intimidated by the challenges posed by Chinese vessels. They are challenging the Philippine Navy and we will not back down, we will continue resupplying our vessels. We will show them that the West Philippine Sea is ours.)

Sobejana also reiterated that maritime patrols of Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) at the West Philippine Sea and Kalayaan Island Group would increase confidence of Filipino fisherfolk in conducting activities at the disputed waters.

"Buong West Philippine Sea po kung saan nasasakupan ng Pilipinas ang ating pinapatrolan pero kung saan po ‘yung ating mangingisda at kung san itong sasakyang pandagat ng China dun po tayo kadalasang pumupunta dahil iiwasan natin na mathreaten or ma-intimidate ‘yung ating mangingisdang kababayan," the military chief said.

(We are patrolling the West Philippine Sea, the country's territory. We are patrolling where our fishermen are going as well as where the China ships are staying to make sure that our countrymen will not be threatened or intimidated.)

"... Dahil sa presensya natin sila po ay nabigyan ng proteksyon at lumalakas din po ang loob nila na may nakikita silang mga sasakyang pandagat mula sa Philippine Navy, sa Coast Guard saka sa BFAR," the military chief added.

(Our presence give protection to our fishermen and they gain confidence whenever they see vessels of Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, and BFAR.)

The AFP chief said they are mulling to transform Pag-asa Island, part of Spratly Islands, into a logistics hub where Philippine military's boats can refuel and resupply.

"Sa pamamagitan ng pag-transform ng Pag-asa island into a logistics hub ay hindi na lalayo ang ating mga barko at tuloy tuloy 'yung ating pagsagawa ng sovereignty patrol sa West Philippine Sea," said Sobejana.

(If we transform it into a logistics hub, our boats will not go further and our sovereignty patrol in West Philippine Sea will continue.)

Over the weekend, Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana dismissed China's order to stop the Philippines from conducting maritime drills.

"While we acknowledge that China’s military capability is more advanced than ours, this does not deter us from defending our national interest, and our dignity as a people, with all that we have," Lorenzana said.

"Walang alisan [No leaving]."

Foreign Affairs Secretary  Teddy Boy Locsin Jr. also dished out a strong remark against China, asking the Asian nation's ships to leave the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte said in a Cabinet meeting on Monday that there is no reason to be disrespectful to China amid the dispute over territorial waters. — Consuelo Marquez/RSJ/AOL, GMA News