China warships' turning off of ID systems a violation of law –Arevalo

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Marine Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo on Wednesday described the reported shutting down by China warships of their automatic identification system (AIS) while passing through the Sibutu Strait in the southern tip of the Philippines as a "deception" and a "violation of the rule of law."

In a forum in San Juan City, Arevalo was asked if the move of the Chinese warships was suspicious.

"Definitely because the rule says dapat naka-on itong mga ito, mga AIS na ito. Kung ito po ay kanilang papatayin at hindi naman natin alam, kasi ang proseso po niyan kung may dadaang barko mula sa ibang bansa lalo kung warship ito, kailangan po may appropriate permission ito mula sa ating bansa. At least a notification in advance," Arevalo said.

"By in all intents  purposes, this could be classified as a deception or a violation of the rule of law with regard to applying of rules especially kung hindi naman ito in the nature of innocent passage," he added.

According to the AFP spokesman, the military is still conducting investigation on the incident as authorities want to identify the areas in the Philippines where presence of security forces need to be strengthened.

"Iimbestigahan natin 'yan kung ano pa ang surrounding circumstances dito para makita natin meron ba tayong kailangan pang palakasin diyan sa area ng ating bansa," Arevalo said.

Likewise, he urged residents in Tawi-Tawi to report to authorities if they witness any warships passing through their waters.

It was Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana who bared that the Chinese warships were continuing to pass through the Sibutu Strait with inactive AIS.

Sibutu Strait within box in red borders. —Screen-cap from Google Maps

"In any part of the world, if you shut off your AIS, you do not want yourself to be known," said Lorenzana. "Ayaw nilang malaman kung sino sila. Pero nakikita naman natin sila. So what was the use of putting off your AIS?"  Lorenzana had said.

"Hindi natin makita by our radar. But they can be seen by our naked eye because the Strait is very narrow," he added.

Last week, Lorenzana mentioned that Chinese ships had passed through the Sibutu Strait, a strip of water between the Sibutu Island and the rest of Tawi-Tawi province, four times since February of this year.

The Defense chief had said that if warships intended to pass through Philippine waters, they needed to inform local authorities. —LBG, GMA News