The Department of National Defense (DND) said it will
constantly conduct monitoring and surveillance missions in Scarborough Shoal
(Bajo De Masinloc) where 10 Chinese vessels are currently gathered.
The area is 123 miles west of Subic Bay ,
Zambales.
DND public affairs office chief Arsenio Andolong said they
are continuing monitoring and surveillance operations but said further action
will depend on the other of the Commander-in-Chief, President Rodrigo Roa
Duterte.
Earlier, the DND released pictures of the Chinese vessels
lying off Scarborough Shoal. The photos were taken by Filipino military
aircraft on overflight missions to the area last September 3.
But prior the overflight, Andolong said the DND has prior
knowledge of Chinese activity in the shoal as Philippine ships are regularly
patrolling the area.
He added that DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana decided to make
the information public after learning that the number of Chinese ships in
Scarborough Shoal has increased.
The DND chief earlier said that there are 10 Chinese ships
in the area, with four looking like Chinese Coast Guard ships, four similar to
barges and two resembling troop ships.
Its maritime law enforcement units have been consistently
driving away Filipinos spotted in the area.
Last July 12, the United Nations Permanent Court of
Arbitration invalidated China's claim over its "historic rights" to
the West Philippine Sea and also pointed out that its 'Nine-Dash-Line' claim
has no legal basis.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=921262
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