Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Tuesday, August 8 took to task the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Navy to undertake surveillance of the vessels in Manila Bay undertaking reclamation activities.
Showing photos and a video of the place, Ejercito expressed his alarm over the presence of these vessels that are manned by Chinese operating in Manila Bay.
(Photo courtesy of O/S JV Ejercito)
“The Coast Guard and Navy should, likewise, check on the Chinese vessels undertaking the reclamation on Manila Bay,” Ejercito said in a statement.
“These are manned by Chinese, it is not far fetched that some PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) intel (intelligence) might be on board these vessels!” he pointed out.
The PLA is the principal military force of the People’s Republic of China and armed wing of the Communist party.
“Masyado na silang malapit, nasa Manila Bay na (They are so near now, they’re in Manila Bay already),” the senator lamented.
Ejercito said it is possible that the same vessels were also used in the reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea.
“Malamang mga yan din ginamit sa reclamation sa West Philippine Sea (Probably those were also used in the reclamation of the West Philippine Sea),” he said.
“Para na nating niluto sarili natin! Lutong Macau! (It's like we cooked ourselves)” he added.
Ejercito earlier joined other senators in criticizing the recent water cannon attack launched by the Chinese Coast Guard’s (CCG) on a PCG vessel in a resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal.
The Senate has also passed a resolution condemning China’s repeated incursions in the West Philippine Sea.
The said Senate resolution also provided recommendations to the government, including raising the issue on China’s blatant harassment and bullying in the WPS before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).