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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Zambales solon cautious amid reports of new structures in Bajo de Masinloc

Zambales solon cautious amid reports of new structures in Bajo de Masinloc

Published May 31, 2026 01:28 pm

At A Glance

  • Deputy Speaker Jay Khonghun declares Philippine sovereignty in Bajo de Masinloc non‑negotiable and trusts the Marcos administration to defend territory through all means.
  • Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro reports raw information on possible new structures, saying the area is dynamic and closely monitored.
  • Khonghun stresses the shoal's strategic importance within the EEZ and pledges full support for government actions to protect sovereignty and coastal communities.
(Unsplash)
(Unsplash)


"Our sovereignty is non-negotiable."
This was the stern statement of House Deputy Speaker Zambales 1st Rep. Jay Khonghun following reports on possible new structures in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“I fully trust that the Philippine government, under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., will exhaust all diplomatic, legal, and defensive efforts to ensure that not one inch of our territory or maritime jurisdiction will ever be ceded to any foreign entity,” Khonghun said over the weekend.
“Our sovereignty is non-negotiable," added the House leader, whose province faces the WPS.
He noted that the people of Zambales will continue to closely follow developments in Bajo de Masinloc.
Department on National Defense (DND) Secretary Gibo Teodoro earlier said on the sidelines of the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that there was "raw information" on new structures in the area.
“May raw information. Actually, sinasabi ko, ang Bajo de Masinloc ay dynamic ang area, so bagama’t maliliit pa ang mga nangyayari, binabantayan na ito,” Teodoro said.
(There is raw information. Actually, I am saying that Bajo de Masinloc is a dynamic area, so even though the incidents are still small, they are already being monitored.)
To this, Khonghun said: “While we appreciate the Defense Secretary’s assurance that the situation is being monitored, we must not underestimate the strategic importance of Bajo de Masinloc."
“This is not merely a distant maritime feature — it lies just 124 nautical miles west of mainland Zambales and is firmly within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as recognized under international law, including the 2016 Arbitral Award,” he explained.
The deputy speaker is a member of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) Executive Squadron with the rank of auxiliary commodore.
The Zambales congressman stressed that any activity in the area, no matter how small at present, carries significant implications for national sovereignty, the rights of Filipino fishermen, and the security of coastal communities in Zambales and nearby provinces.
“Kasama ang ating mga mangingisda, mga coastal communities, at lahat ng Pilipino, nakatayo akong matatag sa panawagan na bigyan ng proteksyon ang ating soberanya at karapatan. Buo po ang suporta ng aking opisina sa ano mang magiging hakba ng ating gobyerno upang mapangalagaan ang ating karagatan,” he said.
(Together with our fisherfolk, coastal communities, and all Filipinos, I stand firm in the call to protect our sovereignty and rights. My office fully supports any step our government will take to safeguard our seas.)

Related Tags

Bajo de Masinloc West Philipine Sea Jay Khonghun Gibo Teodoro China Zambales
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