TROUBLING FIND On the surface and underwater, Philippine Coast Guard divers find piles of dead corals in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, taking them as signs of another island-building activity by the Chinese. —PHOTOS FROM THE X POSTS OF PCG SPOKESPERSON COMMODORE JAY TARRIELA
MANILA, Philippines — The suspected reclamation by China in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal has already been deterred, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Monday.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said this is due to the presence of the Philippine Coast Guard in the area since April 15.
READ: PCG sees signs of possible island – building in Escoda Shoal
“Magmula po ng ma-monitor natin na may ganitong activities na nangyayari sa shoal na yan, foremost ang
coast guard po ang nandiyan, constantly na po silang nagpapatrolya diyan ngayon,” Padilla said over radio dwPM.
(When we began monitoring such activities in that shoal, foremost the coast guard was there, they were constantly patrolling there now.)
“Their presence there is constant, tuloy-tuloy na po sila, for 26 days na po,” Padilla further said, citing PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela.
(Their presence there is constant; they have been ongoing for 26 days.)
Tarriela previously said they deployed one of its biggest vessels, BRP Teresa Magbanua, in the area, only 75 nautical miles from the coast of mainland Palawan, well within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
Padilla said the deployment of this vessel “deterred” this activity.
“Napansin po natin, wala nang activities to continue on their … activities to reclaim that area,” she added.
(We have noticed that there are no more activities to continue the area’s reclamation.)
“Meron na lang daw na mga observed na divers silang dine-declare according to kay Commodore Tarriela, but yung mismong malakihang operations to reclaim that island, wala na pong ganun, na-deter po natin in a way,” she ended.
(There were observed divers that were declared, according to Commodore Tarriela, but the widespread operations to reclaim that island will not happen anymore. We deterred it in a way.)