PCG to check new sightings of floating markers off Zambales
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THE Philippine Coast Guard has sent its assets to the waters off Zambales to check the supposed new sightings of floating booms.
“Pinapunta namin yung tugboat dun. Meron kasing information na may sighting ulit. But so far wala pang feedback yung tugboat namin kung meron talaga,” Coast Guard commandant Admiral Rodolfo Isorena told reporters on the sidelines of the Navy change of command.
He said the floating booms came from the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratlys).
“In [Panatag], wala pang nilalagay whatsoever. Walang construction. Malinis pa…We do not know the exact place kung saan galing, but we are sure na hindi na siya Bajo de Masinloc, kaya, wala siyang ibang pinanggalingan kundi Kalayaan,” he said.
The booms reached Zambales most likely because of strong sea waves caused by weather disturbances, he said.
Late last month, several floating booms with Chinese markings were found along the Zambales coastal towns near Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal), a territory in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) claimed by China and Philippines. China has controlled the shoal after a standoff in 2012 and has been preventing Filipino fishermen from getting close to the shoal.
Panatag is within the Philippines 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
Isorena said the previously discovered floating booms were from China: “[Those were from] China, wala namang iba,” he said, adding that its purpose is for dredging.
“’Di ba may mga tubo tapos may pang connect…? Pang dredge yun, pang hukay,” he said.
China claims most parts of the South China Sea, but are also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei. In recent months, China has made significant progress in its reclamation works in the Spratlys. This has raised concern of the claimants, as well as Japan and United States.
“Wala pang direktiba sa amin yung DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications), Malacañang kung ano talaga yung gagawin. But we’re trying to get [boom parts from the] fishermen,” Isorena said.
Meanwhile, Congressman Francis Acedillo, a former Air Force pilot, suggested that the floating booms must not be disposed of immediately.
“Maganda siguro wag muna i-dispose. I-consult muna ang legal experts baka pwedeng gamitin for legal proceedings,” he said.
The Philippines has filed an arbitration case against China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
