Coast Guard drove Ch warship out of WPS

By J.Lo

"Congratulations to our brave Philippine Coast Guard… I'm sure in due course, you will be given proper recognition that you deserve…we salute you," presidential spokesman Herminio Roque Jr. said at a press briefing a coast guard patrol vessel challenged  Chinese "navy warship" at Marie Louise Bank in West Philippine Sea and followed it until it left Philippine waters.

In a release, the coast guard said BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) reported sighting a ship flying flag of People's Republic of China and with Chinese markings at the bank, which is 147 nautical miles from El Nido, Palawan, on July 13.

PCG report showed BRP Cabra issued  radio challenge to the Chinese ship while monitoring it on radar. It then moved closer to the ship to get a better view of what the Chinese ship was doing in Philippine waters.

The Chinese ship did not respond, prompting BRP Cabra, to use its Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) to repeat the challenge. It was then that the Chinese ship started moving out of Maria Louise Bank, with BRP Capra following it to make sure it left Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone.

The coast guard said Chinese ship only sent  radio message when BRP Cabra was around 500-600 yards, or 0.25-0.30 nautical miles away. "Philippine Coast Guard 4409, this is Chinese Navy Warship 189. Please keep two nautical miles distance from me," the coast guard quotes the Chinese naval vessel as saying.

On June 30, BRP Cabra also challenged and drove away five "Chinese ships" and two "Vietnamese vessels" they monitored in Marie Louise Bank. 

The PCG said its patrol vessel also checked on Filipino fishers on a boat from Occidental Mindoro who were fishing in the bank at the time. "They said  their fishing has been peaceful and bountiful and they have not been abused or harassed by other vessels," the PCG said.

The PCG said BRP Cabra's patrol in the Marie Louise Bank and Kalayaan Island Group was part of a mission under Task Force Pagsasanay. The task force was formed in April to ensure safety and security of Filipino fishers in Philippine waters.

Malacañang, lauded the coast guard for challenging the Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea.


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