PCG: Structures spotted at Scarborough Shoal trace back to 2010

Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard for the West Philippine Sea. | INQUIRER.net file photo / ARNEL TACSON

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday said the structures recently spotted in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal during a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight were already present as early as 2010, based on historical satellite images.

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said the debris-like structures seen inside the shoal were not newly built.

“We are now retrieving images way back earlier that this structure has been there already. So this is not something new. This might just be debris of the plan to construct a structure there,” Tarriela told reporters on the sidelines of a Stratbase ADR Institute forum in Makati City.

READ: Underwater structures, barriers seen in Panatag Shoal — PH Navy

The structures were spotted on Tuesday during one of the Coast Guard’s MDA flights. While believed to be remnants of earlier activity, their presence occurs amid China’s continued assertion of control in the West Philippine Sea.

Bajo de Masinloc, located about 120 nautical miles west of Zambales, is a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishers and lies well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Tarriela said the PCG is still validating the purpose of the structures, adding that any action regarding their removal will be decided by higher authorities.

“That will still be decided by the National Maritime Council and the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea,” he said. “It’s already more than enough, based on 2010 satellite images, to know that the structure has been there.”

New buoy, barrier removed

Based on the PCG’s latest maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight over the shoal, Tarriela said two notable developments were observed: a second floating buoy was installed by Chinese forces at the northern part of the shoal, and the floating barrier previously set up inside the shoal has been removed by the China Coast Guard.

Tarriela first confirmed on Wednesday that the PCG found a yellow buoy installed at the northern tip of the shoal during a maritime domain awareness (MDA) operation.

Earlier this week, the Philippine Navy also reported spotting floating barriers near the shoal during a maritime inspection. Its West Philippine Sea spokesperson, Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, said they were verifying reports of possible underwater structures, which may be remnants of old installations in the area.

“This strengthens our argument that they only put those floating barriers when there is a high number of Filipino fishermen and government vessels in the area,” Tarriela said. “The moment the number of Filipino fishing boats diminished, they removed it.”

Tarriela stressed that the installation of buoys by China inside the shoal is illegal.

“Those two floating buoys are already a violation because they do not have legal authority to install them in Bajo de Masinloc,” he said.

He did not confirm if the Philippine government plans to remove the buoys, saying such actions fall under operational matters.

Harassment continues

Tarriela also acknowledged complaints of continued harassment of Filipino fishermen by the China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia near Pag-asa Island and Scarborough Shoal.

He said Chinese vessels recently conducted water cannon attacks and dangerous maneuvers against Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ships within 1.6 to 1.8 nautical miles from Pag-asa Island, well within the Philippines’ territorial waters.

Despite this, he said the PCG and BFAR continue to provide security and fuel assistance to fishermen under the Kadiwa sa Bagong Bayanihan sa mga Mangingisda (KBBM) project.

READ: PH-says-chinese-vessel-deliberately-rammed-government-ship/

“We can still guarantee the safety and security of our Filipino fishermen,” he said.

Moreover, Tarriela also commented on reports of possible renewed joint coast guard cooperation between the Philippines and China, saying such proposals are still under interagency review.

“It will not be unilaterally decided by the Philippine Coast Guard. It will be vetted by relevant government agencies and the National Security Adviser,” he said. “As long as cooperation is truly cooperation, it would be positive—but nothing is final yet.” /mr