AFP verifying new construction activity at Scarborough

The military is verifying reports of possible Chinese construction activity at the disputed Scarborough Shoal after Filipino fishermen saw two objects believed to be fuel tanks floating near the island, belated reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo said yesterday.

The report, based on a radio message from Navy chief Vice Adm. Luisito Fernandez to Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes, said the white-colored objects were sighted some 25 nautical miles southeast of the shoal at 3 p.m. on Feb. 3.

The fishermen, on board F/B Estrella, described the objects with markings, "Inland" and "Warning liquid oxygen," as similar to lorry tanks approximately 20 feet long and having eight protruding pipes.

The crew attempted to come closer to the two suspicious objects but backed off upon seeing the written warnings on the objects.

The report said the unidentified objects may be relevant to the intelligence reports that China will construct communications facilities at Scarborough Shoal, which is about 125 nautical miles from Zambales or well within the Philippine's 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

A Navy ship (FP-11) was dispatched to the area to verify the report but detected no activity in the island.

A Navy Islander surveillance aircraft was also directed to conduct aerial search but also sighted no activity.

The objects were detected just a day after Navy patrol ship BRP Rajah Humabon fired warning shots at Chinese fishing vessels caught poaching at Scarborough Shoal.