Lorenzana: Chinese ships have been passing through Sibutu Strait since February

Chinese ships have passed through the Sibutu Strait four times since February this year, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday.

"There were four instances when there were Chinese ships that passed through, different times starting February up to this time. Four times 'yan," Lorenzana said in his speech during an event at the Philippine Coast Guard.

According to Lorenzana, as long as the Chinese ships will not do anything illegal, they are allowed to pass through the Sibutu Strait, a strip of water between the island of Sibutu and the rest of Tawi-Tawi province.

Lorenzana also revealed that he had obtained a report saying a Chinese warship passed through the Sibutu Strait. He said he asked government troops to confirm this, but the latter said there was no passage of the ship.

“Lately there was a report that the aircraft carrier of China dumaan daw sa Sibutu Strait and I asked our troops there to confirm if three weeks ago, Liaoning, the Chinese ship, really passed through... ang sabi nila wala," Lorenzana said.

In an interview with reporters, Lorenzana underscored that if warships intend to pass through Philippine waters, they should first inform local authorities.

“Kung mga warships ‘yan, inform us only, inform us with their passage. But for commercial shipping, no need to ask permission kasi allowed naman ‘yung innocent passage eh,” Lorenzana said.

According to Lorenzana, he had talked to Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua about the reported passage of ships in the Sibutu Strait.

Lorenzana said the ambassador told him that he would direct ships that wanted to pass through the Sibutu Strait to inform Philippine authorities

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo declined to comment on the reported passage of Chinese ships in the country's territorial waters.

"I will leave that to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs [Teodoro Locsin]. That’s his turf. I don’t want to preempt his statement on that.  That is courtesy to a fellow Cabinet member," Panelo said at a news conference in Malacañang on Thursday. — MDM/BM, GMA News