MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Coast Guard said on Wednesday that they are ready to send back ships to the disputed Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal if and when directed to by authorities.

The ships from the Philippines were ordered pulled out by President Aquino on June 16 due to bad weather and had not been asked to return since.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo said they were on “standby” and “ready” to send back ships to Scarborough once they are instructed by higher authorities.

Tensions between the two countries started when the Philippine Navy’s BRP Gregorio del Pilar tried to apprehend seven Chinese fishing boats it caught poaching off on Scarborough Shoal on April 10.

Meanwhile, a credible source from Coast Guard said that three Chinese ships remained posted at the disputed shoal, months after a standoff with the Philippines.

The source said that one of the ships seen during an aerial patrol two weeks ago was a maritime surveillance craft and another a Fisheries Law and Enforcement Command vessel.
The source said fishing by Filipino fishermen had also been rare due to bad weather and added that there were no threats coming from the Chinese.—Frances Mangosing

Tags: China , Philippine Coast Guard , Philippines , Scarborough Shoal , territorial disputes

Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of INQUIRER.net. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.

Copyright 2012 INQUIRER.net. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. To subscribe to the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper in the Philippines, call +63 2 896-6000 for Metro Manila and Metro Cebu or email your subscription request here.

Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer's day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer's Reader's Advocate. Or write The Readers' Advocate: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94