KINUMPIRMA kahapon ng Philippine Navy na nagsagawa ng “intrusive patrol” ang China Coast Guard sa loob ng karagatang sakop ng Pilipinas may 60 nautical miles lamang sa dulong bahagi ng Lubang Island sa Mindoro province.
Ayon kay Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad , “The Philippine Navy has monitored the presence (China Coast Guard), it was a continuous passage west of Lubang island, 60 nautical miles from mainland Luzon.
Agad na naimpormahan ng Philippine Coast Guard ang Naval Forces Northern Luzon at Naval Forces West hinggil sa presensya ng China Coast Guard.
Posibleng igiit umano ng CCG na nagsasagawa sila ng continuous passage sa ilalim ng umiiral na freedom of Navigation.
“The Philippine Navy monitors the expanse of our EEZ. We are aware of the presence of the Chinese Coast Guard vessel that transited 60 nautical miles west of mainland Luzon,” ani Trinidad
Nitong nakalipas na linggo ay inihayag ni dating US Air Force official at Defense Attaché Ray Powell, director of South China Sea monitor SeaLight, ang presensya ng isang 135-meter CCG vessel with bow number 5303 na nagsasagawa ng “intrusive patrol” sa loob ng Philippine waters bandang alas 4:00 ng hapon nitong Linggo.
Inihayag din ni Trinidad na nagsagawa sila ng radio challenge sa Chinese vessel, subalit hindi ito tinugon ng China. VERLIN RUIZ