Two Sino navy vessels spotted off West Philippines Sea

From the Philippine News Agency (May 8): Two Sino navy vessels spotted off West Philippines Sea

Two Sino navy surveillance vessels have been reportedly spotted near Ayungin Shoal in the disputed West Philippines Sea, and the Western Command (WESCOM) is verifying the report.

A source said the Chinese navy vessels were located Tuesday at a distance of over six miles west of Ayungin Reef (2nd Thomas Reef), and information about their presence have already been reported to the WESCOM.

Lt. Cheryl Tindog, spokesperson of the WESCOM in Palawan, confirmed that information about the presence of the alleged Sino navy vessels has reached Maj. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, the newly-installed commander.

However, when asked to comment on the matter, she refused to say any and merely said verifications are now being done by the WESCOM.

Closest to the Mischief Reef, which has gained international fame due to the construction of pre-fabricated structures that appear to be naval outposts at sea some years ago, Ayungin is a reef named after a fish with the same name.

It is well within the six islands that the Philippines is claiming in the West Philippines Sea under the Kalayaan municipal government.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=523950