Manila, Philippines – The National Maritime Council (NMC) and the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) are set to decide on the removal of underwater structures recently spotted in the Bajo de Masinloc area, according to a statement made by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela.
Based on satellite images, Tarriela said that the structure was there as early as 2010, but the said objects were debris from a planned structure in the area.
The PCG is continuing to retrieve images of the previous structure.
On Tuesday, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said that the military has spotted underwater structures in the BDM area.
The Philippine Navy is still verifying whether these structures are new installations.
To recall, it was 1997 when China attempted to establish a steel structure in the BDM but the Philippines blocked it.
September 10, when China announced its plan to establish a nature reserve in the BDM.
The Department of Foreign Affairs filed a new diplomatic protest against China over the October 12 water cannoning of a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship by the Chinese Coast Guard.
The Philippines has filed 48 diplomatic protests against China this year.
Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement Chairman Emeritus Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia continues to encourage youth to intervene in the issue of territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea.
This is to counter Beijing’s continued spread of misinformation claiming Manila’s territory. Something that is a clear violation on the final decision of the 2016 Arbitral Award and the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone.-Alvin Pelobello, Eurotv News