MANILA, Philippines- Naghahanda na ang Philippine Navy (PN) para sa posibleng pag-okupa sa Grande at Chiquita Islands sa oras na ideklara na ang mga ito bilang military reservations.
“The thrust right now of the PN is to prepare for eventual occupation or preparation of the land that will be awarded through a presidential proclamation declaring Grande Island (and) Chiquita Island as military reservations,” ang sinabi ni PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad sa isang panayam.
Hindi naman ito nagbigay ng karagdagang detalye kung kailan nagsimula ang pag-uusap ukol sa mga nasabing isla na gagawng military reservations.
“These islands, need to be declared as military reservations due to its proximity to Subic Bay whose “natural layout” provides safe harbor for Navy ships using the vital waterway,” ayon kay Trinidad.
Isang runway aniya ang gumagana sa Subic Bay area na maaaring gamitin ng Philippine aircraft.
“Hence the need to be able to have a military presence, a foothold in the Subic area,” ani Trinidad.
Samantala, sinabini Trinidad na ang hakbang ay walang kinalaman sa pag-aresto sa anim na foreign nationals at dalawang Pinoy na natuklasan na nagsasagawa ng illegal activities sa Grande Island noong nakaraang March 13.
“The foreign nationals that were arrested on Grande Island were there even before the talks of having (the island declared) as a naval reservation,” ang winika ni Trinidad.
Ang Grande Island, matatagpuan sa Subic Bay, ay isang strategic vantage point na may malinaw na tanawin sa mahahalagang sea lanes sa West Philippine Sea, kabilang na ang Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). Kris Jose
