Philippines planning militia fleet, eyes fishers as reserve forces

The Philippine military is looking to put up its maritime militia in the West Philippine Sea to strengthen its presence in the area days after the Chinese coast guard used water cannons on a resupply mission to the Ayungin Shoal.

AFP chief of staff General Romeo Brawner answered in the affirmative if putting up a militia fleet was part of the Philippines' plans with China and Vietnam having their own.

"Yes, it's part of our plans," Brawner said at a news conference at the AFP Western Command headquarters in Palawan.

Brawner said the military was looking at Filipino fisherfolk being part of the reserve forces.

"We're also trying to develop our reservists who will be able to operate in the sea," Brawner said.

"And then of course, 'yung gusto natin 'yung mga fisherfolks natin gawin din nating reservists at tuturuan natin sila kugn paano sila makaktulong sa pagdipensa ng ating bansa," he added.

(And then, of course, we want our fisherfolk to become reservists and teach them how to help in defending the country.)

The Wescom said it monitored over 400 foreign vessels in the West Philippine Sea as of Wednesday.

Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, commander of AFP Western Command, said 85% were Chinese.

"That's just all foreign vessel incursions in the West Philippine Sea,” Carlos said.

The Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) over the weekend used water cannons against the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) fleet that was on a resupply mission to Filipino troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in the Ayungin Shoal.

Several countries  — led by the United States, Australia, Japan, and Canada — expressed support for Manila and criticized China's actions, the latest in the string of several reported incidents of harassment against Philippine vessels this year.

Brawner said the AFP was looking at the deployment of more maritime vessels and aircraft in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

“We have plans to deploy more ships and even 'yung mga aircrafts natin para mabantayan natin 'yung ating EEZ," Brawner said.

"Hindi lamang 'yung pagbantay dito but we really have to establish our presence in the area. Ang labanan dito padamihan eh,” he added.

Brawner said the Philippines would not be able to keep up with China's number of ships and even fishing vessels.

"But definitely, we'll try to deploy more ships and fishing vessels [so that we can establish our presence in the area],” he added.

This developed as the resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre was affected by the actions of the Chinese coast guard.

No less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said that the resupply of the crew of would fall short.

BRP Sierra Madre has been aground at the Ayungin Shoal since 1999. The ship manned by more than a dozen Marines and sailors has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory.

Ayungin is located 105.77 nautical miles from the nearest Philippine province of Palawan and constitutes part of the country’s EEZ. —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News