MANILA, Philippines – Nag-isyu ng radio challenge ang Philippine Coast GUard sa barko ng China Coast Guard malapit sa Pag-asa Island.
“The PCG aircraft immediately issued several radio challenges to Chinese Coast Guard vessel 3103, emphasizing that it has no legal jurisdiction to conduct maritime law enforcement activities within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone,” saad sa pahayag ni PCG Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela nitong Sabado, Mayo 2.
Ito ay kasabay ng pagbuntot ng barko ng China sa barko ng Pilipinas na nagsagawa ng mission sa Kalayaan Island Group.
Kinumpirma ni Tarriela ang pagsasagawa ng routine Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight ng PCG aircraft PCG 4177 sa island group.
Kabilang sa flight ang ferry mission para sa PCG technical officers na binubuo ng medical doctor, nurses, dentista, at pari.
“During the flight, the PCG aircraft monitored Chinese Coast Guard vessel 3103, positioned approximately three nautical miles from the M/V Kapitan Felix Oca, at coordinates 11°44’N 115°38.8’E (roughly 90 nautical miles northeast of Pag-asa Island). The vessel was observed shadowing the M/V Kapitan Felix Oca in the West Philippine Sea.”
Noong nakaraang buwan ay pinagana ng PCG ang Coast Guard District Kalayaan Island Group sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Kabilang dito ang upgrade sa kasalukuyang unit ng Coast Guard sa isang full-fledged major district, na pinamumunuan ng isang Coast Guard commodore upang masiguro ang mahusay na liderato at strategic oversight sa lugar. RNT/JGC
