PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III said on Monday that the Philippines will maintain its presence in the Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal).
“The Philippine Coast Guard will maintain its presence. We believe this is our waters, therefore our vessels have the right to be in our waters,” the Chief Executive said during an interview in Malacanang on Monday.
The Chief Executive said Vice Admiral Edmund Tan, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant, reported to him that so far there was no untoward incident in the Panatag Shoal.
President Aquino even showed a map to the media to highlight his point that the Panatag Shoal is indeed under the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines.
As to the military exercise between China and Russia, the President said he believed that it has no bearing in the Panatag Shoal issue.
The Aquino administration remains committed to the ongoing consultations with the People’s Republic of China (PROC) toward a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the Philippine’s Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) situation.
President Aquino expressed hope that the dispute will be settled through peaceful, diplomatic and legal means.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Bajo de Masinloc is an integral part of the Philippine territory and part of the Municipality of Masinloc, Province of Zambales. It is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales and is within the 200 nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone and the Philippine Continental Shelf. (PCOO)
