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PCG verifying alleged removal of West Philippine Sea buoys


Amid reports that Chinese fishermen had removed them, the Philippine Coast Guard on Saturday said eight out of ten buoys the PCG had installed in the West Philippine Sea were still there.

However, the PCG said in Jamie Santos' "24 Oras Weekend" report that they had not yet checked the buoys placed on the Balagtas Reef and Julian Felipe Reef.

“One of these days ay magdi-dispatch sila ng barko roon para ma-check kung ung dalawang boya ay nandun pa. Kung gumanda raw ung panahon aalis ung kanilang barko para ma-check ang mga ito,” said Rear Admiral Armand Balilo.

He said the WPS Task Force would be immediately notified if any buoys were missing. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) would also know the measures to be taken if this was the case.

Earlier today, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG), the United States Coast Guard (USCG), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) agreed on the necessity of "conducting periodical exercises to ensure the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific region".

The trilateral working-level meeting of the three agencies would last from June 5 to 7 in Mariveles, Bataan.

"The cooperation among Japan, US, and Philippine Coast Guard agencies plays a vital role in promoting openness, transparency, freedom of navigation, overflight, and rules-based order in the indo-pacific region," said PCG Vice Admiral and Officer-In-Charge Rolando Lizor Punzalan Jr. — Sherylin Untalan/DVM, GMA Integrated News

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