The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday assured Filipinos that it has consistently maintained its presence around Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc and other features in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“Not only the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Air Force, the AFP has never left the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc, the Northern Islands, Benham Rise, and even Kalayaan Island Group,” AFP spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a regular AFP press conference.
“I would like to assure the Filipino people, rest assured, your AFP is there,” he added.
Trinidad issued the clarification following National Maritime Council (NMC) spokesperson Alexander Lopez’s statement ruling out the deployment of military warships to the area.
The military spokesperson, however, maintained that there is “no conflict” with his statement and Lopez’s previous pronouncement.
“Let’s first be very clear on this. The mission of the Philippine Coast Guard and BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) was to support our fisherfolk through the conduct of the Kadiwa,” Trinidad said.
“That’s a law enforcement action of these agencies of government to support our fisherfolk. The AFP, the Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Air Force regularly conduct maritime patrol operations and air surveillance flights in Bajo de Masinloc, the Northern Islands, Benham Rise. There is no conflict in both statements. We have our respective mandates to perform,” he added.
