West Philippine Sea’ label disappears from Google Maps

The “West Philippine Sea” label, located west of the Philippines has disappeared from Google Maps.

Despite the case, zooming in the area will still show the label “Scarborough Shoal,” a common fishing ground within the Philippines’ 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone.

GMA News Online has reached out to Google for comments.

Earlier this month, Google made the “West Philippine Sea” label “easier to see.”

The Scarborough or Panatag Shoal was also shown to be lying within the body of water identified as the West Philippine Sea.

In an administrative order by former president Benigno Aquino III in 2012, the Philippines officially named areas on the western side of the archipelago as the West Philippine Sea.

"The maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago are hereby named the West Philippine Sea. These areas include the Luzon Sea as well as the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo De Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal,” Administrative Order 29 read. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News