THE government is verifying reports of the alleged presence of Chinese Navy and Coast Guard vessels north of Pagasa Island in Palawan.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is now in close coordination with Philippine security officials to verify the reported presence of Chinese vessels near Pagasa Island.
"The DFA, in coordination with relevant security agencies, is verifying reports that Chinese ships were seen near Pagasa Island in the West Philippine Sea," Abella said in a statement.
On Tuesday, Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano said he received information from his "military sources" that there was a "suspicious massing up of Chinese Navy and Coast Guard and maritime militia north of Pagasa Island, a threat to our interest in West Philippine Sea."
According to the information he obtained from his sources, China has deployed two frigates, one Coast Guard vessel, and two large fishing vessels along with maritime militia since August 12.
Alejano said the Chinese ships were found one to three nautical miles north of Pagasa Island, which lies within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
The lawmaker added that on August 13, a Philippine government vessel from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources was prevented by Chinese fishing vessels from going near the sandbars located west of Pagasa Island, around two to seven nautical miles away.
Alejano urged the Philippine government to file a diplomatic protest against China, saying that it must assert its territorial rights.
"This is highly suspicious and threatening, considering the fact that China says one thing in public and does another on the ground," he said.
"This must be taken seriously by the Philippine government and call the attention of China to order their ships away from Pagasa Island and file an appropriate diplomatic protest against China," he added. (VoxPop Philippines)
