PCG: China ‘monster ship’ moves near Lubang, Occidental Mindoro

China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901 also known as the “monster ship” moved near Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro on Monday morning, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

“Two days ago, na-monitor natin siya sa coastline ng Zambales, sa Capones Island, Zambales. Yesterday, umangat na siya sa northern part ng Zambales. Ngayong umaga, as we speak, it is 80 nautical miles away from Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro,” PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela told Super Radyo dzBB in an interview.

(Two days ago, we monitored the monster ship on the Zambales coastline, in Capones Island, Zambales. Yesterday, the Chinese vessel moved to the northern part of Zambales. This morning, as we speak, it is 80 nautical miles away from Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro.)

EXPLAINER: Get to know China's 'monster ship'

Tarriela said that so far the Chinese ship has not harassed Filipino fishermen in the area.

The monster ship was first spotted 54 nautical miles away from Capones Island, Zambales on Saturday. This was within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In response, the PCG deployed BRP Cabra, a helicopter, and the PCG Caravan to check the Chinese ship. The PCG challenged the presence of the CCG by asserting that the vessel was inside the Philippine EEZ.

According to the PCG, the presence of the Chinese ship is a ploy to intimidate Filipino fishermen.

According to National Security Council (NSC) assistant director general Jonathan Malaya, Philippine forces continue to conduct radio challenges to the Chinese monster ship.

''Hindi po natin ito pinapabayaan lang, minamanmanan natin, in fact we're shadowing it. Nandiyan pa rin po hanggang ngayon ang BRP Cabra na siyang nagbabantay at sinusundan itong 5901 sa anumang galaw nito,'' Malaya said in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

(We are monitoring it, in fact we're shadowing it. BRP Cabra is there to monitor and shadow the every move of 5901.)

''Tuloy-tuloy ang ating radio challenge at sinisiguro natin na wala itong ginagawang masama sa loob ng ating exclusive economic zone (We continue our radio challenge and we ensure that it will not do anything inside our exclusive economic zone),'' he added. 

Malaya said the Chinese ship has not conducted any blocking or dangerous maneuvers in the Philippine EEZ.

He also urged fishermen in the area to continue their fishing activities.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy is examining the underwater drone that was found in San Pascual, Masbate in the east side of the Philippines.

Its ownership and capabilities have yet to be determined but the PCG said the Chinese have used underwater drones inside the country’s EEZ in the past.—AOL, GMA Integrated News