Aquino: Philippines owns Scarborough Shoal, vessels to stay

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino has declared that the country will continue to station Philippine vessels in Scarborough Shoal or Panatag Shoal because it is part of its territory.

“We believe these are our waters, therefore our vessel has the right to be in our waters,”  the President said, on Monday, of the Philippine Coast Guard vessel currently docked with a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel in the shoal that China has been to belong to them.

The Chief Executive, who dropped by the Palace press room, said the presence of the Philippine vessels has been tantamount to “showing the flag.”

But he made clear that the government would continue to hold talks with Chinese officials to resolve the ongoing impasse.