Iniulat ng Philippine Coast Guard na nasa 135 barko ng Chinese Maritime Militia ang nakitang nakaistambay na ang iba ay nagkukumpulan sa Julian Felipe Reef, na pasok sa Philippine area of responsibility.
Ayon sa PCG, higit na marami ngayon ang nakitang barko sa lugar mula sa 111 CMM ships na naitala noong November 13, 2023.
Nakita ang CMM ships nang ipadala ni PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan noong Sabado ang PCG vessels na BRP Sindangan at BRP Cabra para magpatrolya malapit sa Julian Felipe Reef, na nasa 175 nautical miles west ng Bataraza, Palawan.
“No response was made to the radio challenges issued by the PCG to the CMM vessels which [are] now estimated to have grown (to) more than 135 vessels dispersed and scattered within Julian Felipe Reef,” ayon sa PCG.
“The PCG maintains its unwavering commitment to safeguarding maritime security, safety, and the marine environment in the course of protecting the territorial integrity, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea,” pagtiyak pa ng PCG.
