MANILA, Philippines – Nagsagawa ang Philippine Coast Guard at Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ng routine Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight nitong Sabado, Disyembre 6 sa Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).
Sa naturang flight na umalis mula sa Puerto Princesa International Airport ng umaga, namonitor ang mga sumusunod na aktibidad sa exclusive economic zone ng Pilipinas:
-Zamora Reef:
1 Chinese hospital ship (862)
2 China Coast Guard vessels with unidentified bow numbers
29 Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels (CMMVs)
Naitala rin ng BFAR ang video footage ng tatlong flare na pinakawalan mula sa reef patungo sa eroplano kasabay ng lawful overflight.
-Pag-asa Cay:
1 Vietnamese research/fishing survey vessel, KN-374, operating southwest of the feature.
1 Vietnam Coast Guard vessel anchored south of the island.
-Julian Felipe Reef:
38 Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels, 26 moored alongside each other and 12 scattered in the area.
-Pagkakaisa Banks:
34 Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels scattered in the vicinity.
-Panganiban Reef:
Unidentified vessels observed inside the lagoon.
-Escoda Shoal:
1 People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel (BN 539) approximately 14.56 nautical miles northwest of the shoal. Ang barkong ito ay paulit-ulit na nag-isyu ng radio challenge laban sa eroplano ng BFAR habang lumilipad sa sovereign rights ng Pilipinas.
Ayon sa PCG at BFAR, ang isinagawang routine transparency flight ay naaayon sa batas ng bansa at international regulations partikular ang 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at final at binding 2016 Arbitral Award.
“These flights aim to monitor the marine environment, assess the status of fisheries resources, and ensure the safety and welfare of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea,” sinabi ng PCG. RNT/JGC
