Probe Chinese vessels in Philippine waters – Hontiveros

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday sought for an investigation on the presence of Chinese vessels within the country’s territories.

Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution No. 1035, urging the appropriate Senate committee to look into the swarm of Chinese militia vessels near Pag-asa Island as well as the reported Chinese-manned dredger vessel in Lobo, Batangas.

According to the opposition lawmaker, the investigation is imperative to determine the “necessary course/s of action to protect Philippine interests, sovereignty, and land and marine resources.”

READ: Chinese-manned dredging ship alarms Batangas coastal town

Hontiveros earlier urged authorities to arrest and prosecute the crew of a Chinese-manned 2,990-ton hopper dredger in the waters of Batangas if proven that they are in the area without any legal authority.

READ: Hontiveros: Arrest Chinese crew of dredging ship sans work permits

According to reports, the dredger vessel suddenly appeared off Brgy. Lagdalarin in Lobo town purportedly to conduct dredging operations at Lobo River for a company named Seagate Engineering and Buildsystems.

The emergence of the dredger vessel in Batangas came after fresh reports of hundreds of Chinese militia vessels surrounding areas in the West Philippine Sea, including Pag-asa Island, since January.

READ: Chinese sea militia swarms around Pag-asa Island – military

/kga