Esperon bats for more Coast Guard, BFAR forces in West Philippine Sea

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon on Monday said more forces are needed to strengthen the Philippines' claim over the West Philippine Sea amid China's aggression.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Esperon said this is on top of the diplomatic protests the government regularly files due to actions by Chinese authorities in the area, the most recent of which was the Nov. 16 harassment of Philippine vessels en route to Ayungin Shoal.

"Unang-una ay kailangan magdagdag tayo ng puwersa natin diyan lalo na sa Coast Guard [at] Bureau of Fisheries [First we should send additional forces there from the Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources]," he said when asked what other actions the government could do aside from filing protests.

Esperon, who chairs the National Task Force West Philippine Sea, said Filipino soldiers in the area, though their numbers are limited, will not back down from any foreign aggression.

Aside from additional forces, Esperon also proposed fortifying the country's stations in the area, strengthening the  multilateral alliances, and having a dialogue with China.

"Remember that itong South China Sea ay napaka-importante nito, kailangang ito ay maging free, open for navigation and for aviation, hindi dapat kukuntrolin ng isang bansa," he said.

(Remember that South China Sea is very important so it must remain free, open for navigation and for aviation. It must not be controlled by a single country.)

During the ASEAN-China special summit, President Rodrigo Duterte said the harassment by Chinese authorities of Philippine ships en route to Ayungin Shoal "does not speak well of the relations between our nations and our partnership."

"We abhor the recent event in the Ayungin Shoal and view with grave concern other similar developments," Duterte said.

Despite the incident, the resupply mission resumed on Monday, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

"The resupply ships left this morning [from] Oyster Bay in Palawan and will reach Sierra Madre tomorrow morning. The Chinese Ambassador assured me they will not be impeded, pero pakiusap nila walang escort [but they appealed against escorts]," Lorenzana said. —KBK, GMA News