AFP: Other countries conducting maritime awareness missions over WPS

At a Monday televised public briefing, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said other countries were conducting maritime domain awareness missions in the West Philippine Sea.

“I am aware na may nagmo-monitor din. Meron tumutulong sa atin na mapataas ang ating level ng pag-monitor sa maritime domain awareness,” he said.

(I am aware other countries are observing. They are helping us in increasing our monitoring for maritime domain awareness)

“I think these assets belong to countries such as the United States,” he added.

During the latest Philippine resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in the Ayungin Shoal, there were reported sightings of a United States aircraft.

The Philippine Coast Guard said they did not coordinate the overflight with the US government.

“As what was reported by some of our media friends who were embedded at the Coast Guard vessels, they were able to see a Poseidon plane of the United States Navy,” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said on CNN Philippines on Monday.

“On the part of the Philippine Coast Guard, we are not aware. We never made a coordination with the US government to carry out this overflight as the resupply operation is ongoing,” he added.

On Friday, Chinese vessels again maneuvered dangerously against Philippine ships in the resupply mission to the Ayungin Shoal, where a US aircraft was supposedly seen.

A US Navy aircraft was also spotted during the August 22 resupply mission.

Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. on Friday said US Navy aircraft were conducting freedom of navigation operations on their own.

“In the role of the United States in those resupplies, they were providing freedom of navigation, they were conducting freedom of navigation operations on their own, uncoordinated with us, which they do on a regular basis anyway,” Teodoro said.

“Well, they (the US) might have coordinated it. But that's below my level of coordination if ever,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon had no direct answer to queries about the US aircraft seen during the Philippines’ resupply mission.

Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder did not directly answer the question, but he mentioned that the US support for the Philippines regarding the issue of national sovereignty would remain.

"I don't have anything specific to report in terms of US military assistance. I believe the Philippines can provide details about their operations," Ryder said. — DVM, GMA Integrated News