PINUPUTAKTI na ngayon ng napakaraming Chinese vessel ang bahura ng Iroquois at Sabina, na nagsisilbing banta sa oil at gas-rich Recto Bank security na nakapaloob sa Exclusive Economic Zone ng Pilipinas.
Sa ulat na isinumite ng Western Command sa punung himpilan ng Armed Forces of the Philippine nasa 48 Chinese militia fishing vessel ang nakikitang umaaligid aligid sa area Iroquois Reef, na nasa katimugang bahagi ng oil and gas-rich Recto Bank sa West Philippine Sea base sa isinagawang air patrol operation.
Sinasabing sa serye ng aerial patrol sa ibabaw ng Iroquois Reef in the past week, napansin ng mga piloto ng NV312, isang Britten Norman Islander light patrol aircraft ng Philippine Navy ang nakaka alarmang presensya ng mga Chinese fishing vessels.
“The swarming of Chinese fishing vessels (CFVs) there is quite visible from the air,” ayon kay Lieutenant Edgard Abogado, pilot-in-command ng NV312.
Inihayag naman ni Lieutenant Karla Andres, co-pilot ng NV312 , “the CFVs were observed to be anchored in groups of five to seven and no fishing activities were noticed. They seem to just loiter in the area.”
Sa paglaki sa bilang ng Chinese Maritime vessel sa Iroquois Reef, ay Nakita rin ang pagdami ng presensiya ng Chinese maritime assets sa Sabina Shoal. Three China Coast Guard (CCG) ships and two People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels are regularly loitering there compared to two wooden resupply boats from the Philippines and two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels.
“Recto Bank is a vital feature within the Philippine’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and China must cease its swarming of vessels to respect our sovereign rights”, pahayag pa ni AFP Western Command (WESCOM) spokesperson, Commander Ariel Coloma.
Ang nasabing ulat ay halos kasabay lamang ng pahayag ni AFP chief of staff General Andres Centino na dahil sa natamong tagumpay sa internal security operations (ISO) ng bansa ay maari ng mag shift ng kanilang focus at resources ang military tungho sa external defense operations.
“The AFP under the banner of our Internal Security Operations (ISO) continues with the aim of totally defeating the Communist Terrorist Group and other local terrorists. Our efforts have resulted in success with the significant reduction of their numbers and firearms and the clearing of areas where they used to maintain presence; and those countering of their, propaganda, and suppression of their financial and logistics support,” pahayag ng Chief of Staff.
“It is noteworthy that from five active Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) guerilla fronts from year end 2022, two were dismantled, two were weakened, leaving only one active. With these, we have safeguarded the safety and welfare of our fellow citizens. Thanks to the tireless effort
“It is noteworthy that from five active Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) guerilla fronts from year end 2022, two were dismantled, two were weakened, leaving only one active. With these, we have safeguarded the safety and welfare of our fellow citizens.pahayag pa ni Gen Centino.
