Palace: No problem with China for PH to rescue grounded ship in disputed sea

Malacañang sees “no problem” with China when the Philippines extricates the navy warship that ran aground on a shoal in the disputed South China Sea.

The BRP Gregorio del Pilar (FF-15) was stranded on Wednesday evening at the Hasa-Hasa Shoal, internationally known as Half Moon Shoal, located near the hotly contested Spratly Islands.

READ: PH Navy flagship runs aground in West PH Sea

“I understand that efforts are being undertaken to retrieve the grounded Del Pilar. If you remember, this was the same Del Pilar that was sent by then President [Benigno Simeon III] Aquino to Scarborough, which led the Chinese to send multiple Coast Guard vessels to the area, leading to exclusion from Scarborough Shoal. It’s the same Del Pilar,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Roque said in a Palace briefing.

Speculations surfaced that China, which has expansive claims in the South China Sea, might not allow Philippine rescuers to retrieve the grounded ship.

However, Roque said the public should “not speculate” about such issues.“Because it’s (the retrieval) ongoing. It’s ongoing. With no problems from China,” he said.  /vvp