Philippines urged to conduct maritime patrols with other nations in WPS

A maritime security expert on Tuesday encouraged the Philippine government to partner with other nations in conducting maritime patrols amid the tension in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Retired Rear Admiral Rommel Jude Ong said conducting maritime operations with other allied or partner countries are “feasible,” stressing the importance of constant communication with other governments.

“We are looking if it is technically feasible to conduct operations with allied countries or partner countries, [and] it is feasible. Ang key naman dyan is you are able to communicate with each other,” Ong said in a forum organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute.

“Pangalawa, is you follow the same tactics. So if yung premises are agreeable with both parties or several parties then madali mag-operate jointly and multilaterally,” he said.

Ong said the Philippines’ capabilities are restricted due to limited resources, the reason it is necessary to partner with other countries.

“Objectively, speaking kasi ganito eh kaya sinabi ko hindi naman tayo mayaman na bansa. We need to work with other countries kasi yung capabilities natin is restricted by our resources, kumbaga yung budget natin,” he said.

“So necessarily ang gawin natin is partner with other countries and of course joint patrol is one option,” he added.

He said joint maritime activities in the WPS will depend on the decision of the administration and foreign governments.

“Whether kung gagawin yan o hindi that is a political decision so we leave that to the political leadership kung papayag sila,” he said.

In the same forum, geopolitics expert and Stratbase ADR Institute non-resident fellow Richard Heydarian urged the Philippine government to maximize its diplomatic relations with Australia.

Heydarian said both nations have had a “robust counter terrorism and conflict resolution in the past decade.”

He said there is still a need for both the United States and Philippines to step up their bilateral cooperation and deepen their contribution to international peace and security.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) earlier said it is currently investigating the recent incident involving a Filipino fishing boat and a China Coast Guard vessel (CCGV) at the Ayungin Shoal last January 9.

The PCG said it was collecting evidence and further information that would be forwarded to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

If deemed necessary, the DFA may use the report to file an appropriate diplomatic action, it said.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. raised the plight of Filipino fishermen in the WPS in his bilateral meeting with his Chinese President Xi Jinping last January 4.

Marcos said they agreed to find a compromise and find measures that will be beneficial to Filipino fishermen.—LDF, GMA Integrated News