There were cases of massive coral harvesting along Rozul (Iroquois) Reef in the West Philippine Sea, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command confirmed on Saturday.
In a news forum on Saturday, AFP-WesCom chief Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos said the military sent out its divers "to do an underwater survey" after Chinese military militia vessels left the swarmed area.
"And nakita namin wala na 'yung mga corals. Nasira na 'yung mga corals and may debris," Carlos said. (We saw that there were no more corals. The corals were damaged and there was debris). We are coordinating with scientists, and experts to do their assessment of the area," Carlos said.
The AFP WesCom earlier reported the "concerning resurgence" of a total of 30 Chinese fishing ships in the WPS, based on its aerial patrols conducted from 6 to 7 September.
Some 23 vessels were monitored in Rozul Reef, there were five ships in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal and two in Baragatan (Nares) Bank.
The Philippine Navy likewise spotted 33 Chinese fishing vessels in Rozul Reef during a routine air patrol on 24 August.
However, Carlos clarified that they are yet to determine whether the Chinese vessels are responsible for massive coral harvesting in the Rozul Reef.
"Suspetsa pa lang natin, we are not saying they [Chinese vessels] are harvesting our corals. We suspect that somebody is harvesting our corals and that means they are violating our sovereign rights," he added.
Carlos, nonetheless, said the presence of Chinese fishing vessels in the territorial waters of the Philippines "is already alarming because we have the sovereign rights in our Exclusive Economic Zone."
"It looks like somebody is exercising that right without our permission," he noted.
The WesCom lamented that the increased presence of Chinese fishing vessels has potential implications in the "Philippines' maritime security, fisheries conservation, territorial integrity, and preservation of the marine environment" as well as becoming a "source of tension in the WPS and have contributed to instability in the region."
In the same forum, AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar stressed the massive coal harvesting "will be affecting the production of fish" and will later on pose a "threat to the food security" in the country.
Aguilar added that the military forces and other concerned government agencies should "have to be active".
"It is also our responsibility that the environment is protected," he pressed on.