The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) disclosed Friday, Feb. 17, that one of its patrol ships encountered and challenged a Vietnamese-flagged fishing vessel off Recto (Reed) Bank as the PCG vowed to intensify its presence in in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid the intrusion of foreign elements.
PCG spokesperson Commodore Armando Balilo said BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) was deployed to the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Islands) to patrol the area when it encountered a Vietnamese-flagged fishing vessel off Recto Bank last Feb. 9.
The Vietnamese vessel was allegedly engaged in long-line fishing operations, a commercial fishing technique which uses a main line with baited hooks attached to short branch lines to attract target fish such as swordfish, tuna, halibut, and others. This technique is often blamed for the death of various marine species.
“MRRV-9701 issued radio challenges and directed the foreign fishing vessel to leave the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) immediately,” Balilo said. Recto Bank is located northeast of the Kalayaan Island Group within the country’s 200-nautical mile EEZ.
Balilo said that BRP Teresa Magbanua deployed rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) to conduct boarding and inspection procedures on the Vietnamese fishing vessel but the latter immediately secured its lines and departed Recto Bank upon seeing the Filipino forces.
The incident happened days after a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel directed a military-grade laser towards PCG ship BRP Malapascua off Ayungin Shoal last Feb. 6 while supporting a rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission of the Philippine Navy.
Although the Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed the laser they used was intended to measure the speed and distance of BRP Malapascua and not to harm the crew of the Filipino ship, the PCG insisted that the device caused temporary blindness among its crew and noted they had no business lying.
“As the PCG steadily strengthens and increases its maritime patrol, search and rescue, and law enforcement operations in the WPS, it remains firmly committed to safeguarding the Philippine interests and rights within the bounds of international law and conventions,” Balilo said.
Balilo also reiterated PCG Commandant Adm. Artemio Abu’s directive for them to protect the territorial waters and sovereign rights of the country in the WPS.
The PCG expects that the number of Filipino fishing vessels that sail and fish in the WPS will greatly increase as the summer season draws near.