Navy’s West PH Sea patrol yields Chinese rocket debris, drug packs

(From left) A suspected Chinese rocket debris and bags of suspected high-grade marijuana are seized during BRP Lolinato To-ong’s patrols in the West Philippine Sea last week. (Photos from AFP WESTERN NAVAL COMMAND)

MANILA, Philippines — A routine West Philippine Sea patrol of a Philippine Navy warship led to the confiscation of suspected Chinese rocket debris and illegal drug packs, authorities said on Tuesday.

BRP Lolinato To-ong conducted its regular patrol in the West Philippine Sea last week, according to Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Arlene Martinez in a regular military press briefing.

Drug packs in Escoda

On Oct. 18 (Saturday), the warship’s personnel found a floating black bag containing unidentified packages believed to be high-grade marijuana in the vicinity of Sabina (Escoda) Shoal.

Martinez said the personnel was deployed there following the report of the Maritime Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary Unit–West regarding floating bags in the area.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Tuesday said it consisted of 32 clear and black plastic bags totaling 16 kilograms of suspected high-grade kush worth P19.2 million.

Martinez said investigation is still ongoing to determine the origin of the illicit items.

Escoda Shoal serves as the rendezvous point for Filipino vessels carrying out resupply missions to the naval outpost in Ayungin Shoal, where the naval outpost BRP Sierra Madre, which is a main flashpoint of tensions between Manila and Beijing, is aground since 1999.

Chinese rocket debris

And on the day after the discovery, or on Oct. 19, they also found suspected debris of a Chinese rocket off Bataraza town in Palawan, said Martinez.

The navy official said the metallic debris bearing a Chinese flag was found approximately 12.17 nautical miles southeast of Rio Tuba village.

Last week, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) confirmed that the Long March 8A rocket was launched from the Hainan International Commercial Launch Center in Hainan Island at around 9:33 a.m. on Oct. 16 (Thursday).

PhilSA said possible drop points of these rocket debris were 45 nautical miles (NM) away from Tubbataha Reef Natural Park; 118 NM away from El Nido, Palawan; 137 NM away from Puerto Princesa, Palawan; and 34 NM away from Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan.

“It was metallic debris. They still need to find out what it is, if it’s really related to the rocket [launch] which is being reported to social media or the other media outfits,” Martinez said.

In September, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) found suspected rocket debris off the waters of Cuyo town in Palawan, also believed to be linked to a recent launch from China’s Long March rocket program.

Last August, explosions believed to be related to a Chinese rocket launch were heard in the eastern part of Palawan, the PCG also reported.

Drugs, debris turned over to Palawan

Martinez said both the debris and illegal drugs were turned over to the authorities in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Monday (Oct. 20).

The 32-meter gunboat named after a Medal of Valor awardee has been patrolling the West Philippine Sea since it was commissioned in 2022. /apl