Navy to increase sea, air patrols in WPS

By MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

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As the Philippine Coast Guard takes stock of last Monday's run-in with the Chinese around Escoda (Sabina) Shoal that left two PCG vessels damaged, the Philippine Navy has increased its patrols in the West Philippine Sea and vowed no letup in supply missions to isolated outposts.

"Rest assured that we have increased our presence through sea patrols and air surveillance flights all over the vast expanse of our nine features in the WPS," Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said at a press briefing yesterday.

Before dawn on Monday, Chinese coast guard (CCG) ships rammed the BRP Bagacay and the BRP Cape Engaño within minutes of each other after engaging them in dangerous maneuvers in the vicinity of Escoda Shoal, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Trinidad said the Philippine Navy also conducts regular rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to Patag and Lawak islands and other areas in coordination with the PCG, under the Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Naval Forces West.

He said that while Escoda Shoal “is not a new flashpoint,” the presence of the CCG, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and maritime militia vessels (MMVs) in the area is illegal and their “actions are coercive and aggressive, their messages are deceptive.”