Dozens of Chinese vessels have recently been frequenting the waters near Pagasa (Thitu) Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a military commander reported on Sunday, Nov. 21. Vice Admiral Ramil Roberto Enriquez, commander of the Western Command (WesCom) in Palawan, said at least 26 maritime...
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima said the West Philippine Sea should be among the top priority issues that all candidates in the upcoming May 2022 national elections. At the same time, De Lima said Filipinos should help defend the country’s sovereign rights by electing candidates who can assert...
The national government will soon resume the resupply mission for military personnel in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) following the “illegal” blocking operation of Chinese vessels to Philippine supply boats in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) recently. A China Coast Guard vessel fires a...
Senator Risa Hontiveros is calling for a Senate inquiry into the "propriety" of allowing a single private entity to control almost all of the nation's strategic fossil energy assets in the West Philippine Sea. Senator Risa Hontiveros (Senate PRIB) Hontiveros said on Friday, Nov. 18 that she has...
House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate on Thursday, Nov. 18 dared all national candidates in the 2022 elections to clearly state their respective stand on the West Philippine Sea dispute with China. Former Rep. Nery Colmenares Zarate said the Philippine government...
Human rights lawyer Jose Manuel 'Chel' Diokno has pushed for the conduct of “multilateral talks” to settle the West Philippine Sea row among claimant-countries. Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Diokno, who is running for senator in 2022, said having multilateral...
Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson said he supports the Philippines entering into a joint venture agreement with China to develop the West Philippine Sea, as long as the 60-40 provision under the 1987 Constitution is maintained and followed. Lacson said it is very crucial for the...
President Duterte raised the issues of coral reef protection and illegal fishing during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) dialogue with China on Tuesday, Oct. 26. President Rodrigo Duterte (Malacañang photo) "We hark back to the Philippines' ASEAN Chairmanship in 2017 where we...
The Philippines and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to sustain activities at sea following international law, including the 2016 arbitral ruling that ruled in favor of the Philippines in a maritime dispute. MARITIME DIALOGUE -- Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Oceans Affairs...
China's apparent "provocative acts" in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) recently have been done not only to Philippine authorities patrolling the area but also to ordinary Filipino fishermen, a military commander revealed on Sunday, Oct. 24. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) drives away seven more...
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has protested China's latest "provocative acts" against Philippine authorities patrolling the country's waters. Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) increased its presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to assert the country’s territory in...
The Department of Agriculture's (DA) Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has raised concern over the continued presence of foreign vessels conducting fishing operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Among others, Chinese Maritime Militia vessels have been monitored in big numbers...
