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PH Navy willing to escort civic group's 3rd mission to WPS

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
March 18, 2025, 6:17 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine Navy is willing to escort the third mission of the Atin Ito Coalition in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in May for security purposes, an official said Tuesday.

"The PN, the Armed Forces, to include other government agencies, are always ready to support them in their endeavor and to provide assistance if and when necessary," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson for the WPS, Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press briefing.

Trinidad hoped that the civic group will coordinate with the appropriate government agency to ensure its mission's success.

Also, he said the presence of PN vessels in the WPS is based on the patrol plans of the Northern Luzon Command and Western Command.

"In the event of specific details like (a) particular request for escorts by different civic society groups, this will be taken up on a case-to-case basis," he said.

Aksed if the PN's patrol plans jived with Atin Ito Coalition's activity, the PN official said that it would be "good to have them at the same time on the same date."

On Monday, the group announced the holding of a "peace and solidarity Sea Concert" for its third mission in the WPS.

The activity scheduled for the last week of May aimed to unite fisherfolk, artists, and advocates—both national and international—in a powerful call for peace, unity, and solidarity.

Meanwhile, Trinidad said that the PN, along with the rest of the military, will do its mandate to ensure the integrity of the national territory.

He made this comment when asked what the Navy would do to ensure that plans of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to set up maritime research stations in Recto Bank, Rizal Reef and Pagasa Island are not bothered by any foreign intrusion.

"The interference conducted by foreign players in the WPS against the other government agencies is beyond our control. What we could assure other government agencies and the Filipino public is that your Armed Forces will keep performing its mandate to ensure the integrity of the national territory, to include protecting all features wherein there (is) the presence of other government agencies. titiyakin natin na masamahan natin sila (we will see to it that they are escorted) if needed, when needed," Trinidad said. (PNA)