Go to WPS, AFP tells Pinoy fishers

The Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is eyeing an increase in Filipino fishermen going to the country's exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.

AFP WesCom chief, Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, shared his optimism in a media interview after the Stratbase ADRi forum, "Implementing a Comprehensive Philippine Maritime Framework to Advance Rule of Law," in Makati City.

Carlos emphasized the importance of asserting the Philippines' sovereignty over its territorial waters, making it the main objective. Hence, he is promoting and urging an increase in the number of Filipino fishermen who engage in fishing activities in the WPS, specifically at Rozul Reef and Ayungin Shoal.

Asked about the maritime situation in the WPS, Carlos said: "The situational update based on maritime awareness monitoring, the number of foreign vessels loitering in the area is not changing."

The AFP, he added, continues to monitor the waters as part of its domain awareness efforts.

Carlos said the foreign vessels mostly swarm at Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef), Rozul Reef, Ayungin Shoal and Pag-asa Island.

Despite the swarming of foreign fishing vessels, Carlos said Filipino fishermen are still willing to fish in the WPS.

"I'm happy to report that we have ongoing efforts to convince our Filipino fishermen to fish in the WPS so we can exercise our sovereign right to fish," he said.

Good start

"I'm happy to note the number has increased a little. I cannot say substantially, but we need more; we need to increase their number more. But it's a good start," he added.

Meanwhile, Carlos noted that they are crafting a National Strategy for WPS.

"The message in strategy, I don't want to sound it, but it's not a complete overhaul of our strategy. It's a normal tweaking of the courses of action that we will take against the situation on the ground," he said.

Carlos added that the strategy includes changing the geopolitical situation in the area "with more nations' extensive support for our efforts to establish a rules-based international order in the WPS."

"We are all taking these into consideration in putting together our strategy. A little tweak here and there, not a complete overhaul," he stressed.

Carlos said the military forces wish to get more resources "so they can perform their job better."

"With the shift to external security operations from internal security operations, we are expecting also a shift in the allocation of resources and the allocation of the forces to address external security threats," he said.

He said some ships from other areas are being deployed in the WPS.

"It's a work in progress to strengthen our forces, to address external security threats in the WPS," he added.

Carlos said that whatever strategies are being used in the WPS must be aligned with the national security strategy of the entire Philippines.

New protest

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Thursday said the Philippines is considering filing a new protest against China over its latest destructive activities in the West Philippine Sea.

In an interview with broadcaster Anthony Taberna, Bersamin said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is serious about solving the West Philippine Sea dispute.

"That is always the position the government will most likely take. We have always conducted our foreign policy strictly through diplomacy. We don't have aggression or aggressiveness. But whether or not we will file another case against China is one of the options, and I think our lawyers are seriously considering it. But it's very probable, most likely, but we won't definitively say we will," Bersamin said.

"You know, filing a case has a point. We litigate even if China doesn't participate because it means you have resolve; you have a determination to hold China accountable. And I will be one of those on the side of going against China," he added.