China’s blocking won’t stop Phl patrols in WPS

As the Chinese Coast Guard is determined to intercept, harass, and block the country's maritime patrols in its exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea, the military vowed to be more eager to defend and protect the Philippines' territorial integrity in the South China Sea.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., on Wednesday, confirmed that the Chinese Coast Guard "challenged" anew Philippine Navy vessels on a patrol mission near Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

"While patrolling in the area, we noticed that the CCG challenged our navy ship. So we responded to that challenge and asserted that we were on a patrol mission and told them to stay away and not to block our maritime patrol," he said in Filipino in an interview on state-run Radyo Pilipinas.

Brawner clarified that no military vessel was docked at Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales, but maritime patrols are regularly conducted in the area.

"It is inherent in our mission to conduct maritime patrols in our territorial waters and in our exclusive economic zone, and Scarborough Shoal is way inside our EEZ," he said.

The Philippines, he said, should insist on its ownership of the shoal as it is a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishermen.

"Our fishermen should be able to go inside the shoal to fish," he said. "We really assert that China, they do not own that, and we are protecting the rights of our fishermen to fish in the Scarborough Shoal."

Brawner said the Philippine Navy will continue conducting maritime patrols in the area to ensure Filipino fishermen are protected while fishing in the shoal.

On the other hand, Brawner said the military has not detected signs that China is building structures within Scarborough Shoal.

"Well, as of now, there are no [Chinese] structures in Scarborough Shoal," he said.

The CCG had earlier installed a 300-meter floating barrier near the entrance to Scarborough Shoal. It was then cut by the Philippine Coast Guard upon orders of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, asserting that the country is the rightful owner of the territorial waters.

Brawner said they have deployed teams from the Philippine Navy to monitor and conduct regular patrols in the nine Philippine-occupied features in the WPS, including Pag-asa Island, Panata Island, Likas Island, Kota Island, Patag Island, Lawak Island, Panganiban Reef, Ayungin Shoal and Rizal Reef.

Realigned CIF to AFP

Meanwhile, the military plans to procure military assets and platforms to improve the country's defense posture in the WPS.

Asked about his opinion about Congress realigning some civilian agencies' confidential and intelligence funds to the AFP, Brawner said the military is eyeing the augmentation of its budget for its ongoing modernization program.

"So far, we haven't seen the final version of our budget, but both the Senate and House of Representatives have promised to increase our funds, particularly for the WPS," he said in an interview over the state-run Radyo Pilipinas.

"We don't know yet where the funds will be coming from or whether it will come from CIFs of other agencies, but we are holding on to the promises of the lawmakers who said they will increase our budget, specifically for the WPS," he added.