Navy presence to ensure Fuga Island won't be controlled by China, says chief

Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo is confident that Chinese forces will not have control over Fuga Island.

Bacordo on Monday said President Rodrigo Duterte has been firm in saying that the Navy will have a portion on the island which will be for the construction of a naval detachment in the area.

"The President is very specific that the Navy will be given a 20 hectare area in Fuga Island for the development of a navy detachment, part of that navy detachment will be a future littoral monitoring station, fenced area, and elements of a naval detachment," Bacordo said at an online news forum.

"As mentioned by Secretary Lambino, he said the MOA with the Chinese business group is already expired. I would like to believe that it will never happen. Our presence there is assurance enough that Fuga Island will not be under the control of the Chinese," he added.

Earlier, the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) denied reports that China is taking over Fuga Island, which is located in Aparri in the northernmost part of Luzon.

According to CEZA administrator and CEO Raul Lambino, there are no ongoing developments in Fuga Island by any foreign entity.

In 2019, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said the government should study the security implications of handing over the islands to foreign entities. —LDF, GMA News