HOUSE Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo assailed the unauthorized presence of Chinese vessels, this time on the eastern seaboard of the Philippines and not in the West Philippine Sea.
This developed as Tulfo and his colleague from the ACT-CIS partylist Rep. Edvic Yap; Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Wendel Tulfo, filed a resolution on Monday “urging the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to station appropriate personnel and conduct enhanced routinary patrols and maritime surveillance in the eastern seaboard of the Philippines.”
“Tila malaya na pong nakakapasok at tumambay ano mang oras ang mga barko ng China sa ating mga karagatan. Akalain niyo na dito naman sa silangang bahagi ng ating bansa ang puntirya ngayon ng China tulad ng Benham Rise at Catanduanes area,” Tulfo said in his privilege speech on Monday.
“Ito po ay hudyat na naghahanda na rin silang sakupin ang silangang bahagi ng Pilipinas tulad ng pananakop nila ng buong West Philippine Sea. We have to act now to prevent another Chinese aggression on our territory,” Tulfo added.
In their resolution, the lawmakers said, according to the AFP, a Chinese-flagged research vessel named Shen Kuo was first spotted on April 25, 2024, about 60.9 nautical miles east of Rapu-Rapu island in Albay.
On April 30, the vessel was spotted deploying unidentified equipment about 100 miles east of Catanduanes.
“The foregoing acts raise suspicion and concern about the intentions and unknown activities of the said vessel within the eastern portion of the Philippine waters, yet the AFP’s unsuccessful attempts to contact the vessel through regular radio channels indicate the vessel’s lack of responsiveness or willingness to engage with the proper authorities,” the resolution said.
Tulfo said they filed the resolution to drive away or apprehend any Chinese vessel loitering in that area without proper clearance or coordination with the Philippine authorities.
“If we continue to allow Chinese vessels in that part of our country, we might send the wrong signal to China that we really cannot protect our territory,” Tulfo noted.
“We must act now before the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese militia take over our Exclusive Economic Zone in the Pacific Ocean,” the lawmaker added.
