Plane carrying GMA News team to Pag-asa Island receives China radio challenge

A Chinese vessel tried to drive away a plane carrying the GMA News team on its way to Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.

According to Jonathan Andal's report on "24 Oras" on Sunday, the pilot said a China Coast Guard ship told them to avoid the area because a "misencounter" might happen.

"Avoid daw 'yong area nila so baka raw magka-misencounter, pero hindi namin pinansin [They told us to avoid the area so a 'misencounter' wouldn't happen, but we ignored it]," the pilot said.

Earlier, an airplane carrying Senator Panfilo Lacson and other government officials to the island was also warned by a Chinese vessel.

"You are approaching our military alert zone. Please stay away and leave immediately," it said.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Thursday 45 Chinese maritime militia ships had been spotted in Philippine-held Pagasa Island last week, the highest number so far this year.

China on Thursday said its coast guard was upholding its sovereignty when the Philippine vessels intruded into what it claimed was its waters. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News