Navy ‘encounters’ Chinese vessel in Benham

CASIGURAN, Aurora, Philippines – The Navy’s warship BRP Davao del Sur, which was deployed to patrol Philippine Rise, has figured in an “encounter” with a Chinese cargo vessel. 

The encounter occurred before 5 a.m. on Monday while the Navy vessel was ferrying military, police, Coast Guard personnel and civilians to the undersea region, previously called Benham Rise, for the planting of a fiberglass Philippine flag.

“Except for the language barrier in our exchanges, there’s nothing unusual about this. The vessel was just transiting in Philippine Rise,” said Capt. Richard Gonzaga of BRP Davao del Sur.

There were initial suspicions that something was afoot because the Chinese vessel was very close to the site of the underwater flag-raising ceremony 120 nautical miles off Casiguran.

“It’s just a cargo vessel. It is entitled to innocent passage. It will be a different story if the vessel was anchored in the area because we have no choice but to confront them in line with our mandate,” said Lt. Gen.Romeo Tanalgo, Northern Luzon Command chief. 

BRP Davao del Sur arrived at the Casiguran port at around 7 p.m. on Sunday. It took a 10-hour voyage to the Philippine Rise to link up with BRP Gregorio Velasquez.