Navy continues to patrol WPS
NOLCOM, Tarlac – Lt. General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, commander of the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM), assured Thursday that the Philippine Navy continues to patrol along the contested Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea to preserve the country’s sovereignty.
“Our Philippine Navy forces continued to conduct patrols along the sprawling West Philippine Sea, particularly along the Scarborough Shoal, not only to protect our coastal areas but also to give protection to our fishermen fishing along these coastal areas,” Burgos said during Friday’s awarding and recognition ceremony held inside NOLCOM.
According to Wikipedia, Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, Panatag Shoal, Huangyan Islands are within the Philippine exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.
Consistent with the stand of the government, Burgos said that the presence alone of the Philippine Navy patrolling along the high seas of Bajo de Masinloc gives protection and moral support to Filipino fishermen.
The Bajo de Masinloc has been the traditional fishing area of Filipinos but the Chinese are claiming it as their territory despite being thousands of kilometer away from its nearest island, while the area is just more than 200 kilometers away from Masinloc town, Zambales.
“Malayang makapangisda ang ating kababayan sa Bajo de Masinloc dahil sa patuloy na pagpapatrolya ng ating mga Navy sa naturang karagatan at patuloy nating pababantayan sa ating Navy,” said Burgos.
Burgos is the highest commander of four regions – Region 1, 2, 3 and the Cordillera, including the huge West Philippine Sea and Pacific Ocean in northeastern Philippines.
He assured that their forces are not putting their guard down and they continue to protect the sovereignty of the country.
Also, Major Israel “Ace” Galorio, NOLCOM public information officer, said that “although our patrol boats are so small compared to the Chinese coast guard warships, their presence alone gives confidence and assurance that our local fishermen are safe, can catch fish unmolested in the West Philippine Sea.”
