New AFP chief vows to improve re-supply in West Phl Sea

MANILA, Philippines - Newly-installed Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Gregorio Catapang vowed to find ways to support soldiers securing Philippine territories in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) amid China’s efforts to shore up its presence in the area.

Catapang, who assumed as head of the 125,000-strong military Friday, said they would continue with their re-supply operations and protect the country’s territorial integrity without being provocative.

“We will just maintain our presence because our mandate is to protect our territorial interest in the area and we will find ways and means to improve our re-supply to our soldiers there,” he told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Catapang said the latest re-supply operations in the West Philippine Sea went smoothly.

“We hope the same will happen under out watch. If we need to re-supply our soldiers in our occupied islands, we will immediately give what they need,” the military chief said.

China has stationed ships in various areas in the West Philippine Sea, including those that are within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, to assert its territorial claims.

Last March, Chinese ships twice blocked Philippine vessels that were on a re-supply mission to the Ayungin Shoal, an area 105 nautical miles from mainland Palawan.

The shoal is being guarded by Marines stationed in BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded ship that serves as a Philippine military detachment.

The presence of Chinese ships has prodded the military to airdrop the supplies using islander and nomad planes.

‘Phl won’t lose Recto Bank’

Catapang also gave assurance that the Philippines won’t lose Recto (Reed) Bank to Chinese intruders.

The military, Catapang said, would continue to monitor the area as the government taps diplomatic channels to address the territorial row.

“We will report what is happening in the area and then we will follow whatever orders will given to us by the Department of Foreign Affairs,” he added.

Catapang said they have yet to receive directives related to securing the Recto Bank, an area located within 80 nautical miles from Palawan that is being considered as a site for exploration projects.

“As soon as we receive the order, we will do it and protect the oil exploration in the area,” Catapang said.

Recto Bank is also being claimed by China even if it is well within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

In 2011, two Chinese ships reportedly bullied a civilian vessel commissioned by the Energy department while conducting an oil exploration in the area.

Last week, the Energy department announced that it has granted a one-year extension to British firm Forum Energy’s work program in Recto Bank. The extension allowed the company to conduct drilling operations until August 15, 2016.

Philex Mining, a company led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, owns 64.45 percent of Forum Energy through its interests in FEC Resources Inc. and Philex Petroleum Corp.

China has labeled the drilling extension as “illegal and invalid,” saying the Philippines did not secure permission to grant it. – with a report from Irene Bongcales