WPS spokesperson clarifies: AFP has never left Panatag

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea  —ARNEL TACSON/INQUIRER.NET

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines “has never left” the vicinity of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), said on Tuesday.

Trinidad made the clarification in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo after the National Maritime Council (NMC) ruled out the deployment of Philippine Navy warships to Panatag Shoal, saying such a move would be “warlike” and risk escalating tensions with China.

NMC spokesperson Alexander Lopez said in a press briefing on Monday that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), both civilian agencies, would continue to lead future missions to the shoal despite recent harassment by Chinese forces.

READ: Maritime council rules out deployment of PH warships to Panatag

Respective mandates

“The AFP, the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force regularly conduct maritime patrol operations and air surveillance flights in Bajo de Masinloc, the Northern Islands, Benham Rise. There is no conflict in both statements. We have our respective mandates to perform,” Trinidad said.

“Let’s first be very clear on this. The mission of the PCG and the BFAR was to support our fisherfolk through the conduct of the Kadiwa para sa bagong mamamayang mangingisda. That is a law enforcement support operation,” he added.

Trinidad said the NMC’s statement only referred to the absence of Philippine Navy ships during the PCG and BFAR mission to assist Filipino fishers.

Asked whether the AFP would intervene in case of a worst-case scenario involving Filipino civilian vessels, Trinidad replied that contingency plans were already in place.

“All the actions of the different government agencies are synchronized by the unified commanders … We have contingencies in place for any eventuality,” he said.

Trinidad also stressed that assisting those in distress at sea is a universal obligation. “Your AFP will always be there to render assistance when needed, if needed. It is a universal mandate of any professional organization in the maritime domain to extend help regardless of country or flag,” he said.

Two Chinese warships, one from the People’s Liberation Army-Navy and the other a China Coast Guard vessel, collided with each other on Aug. 11 while blocking the PCG’s BRP Suluan near Panatag.

Both Chinese ships suffered damage, although China has yet to say whether there were any casualties. The BRP Suluan offered medical assistance but its offer was not acknowledged.

The PCG vessel, along with BRP Teresa Magbanua, was escorting the M/V Pamamalakaya, which was in the area to assist about 35 Filipino fishing vessels. /cb