Erwin Tulfo seeks probe of Chinese dredging ships in Manila Bay as security worries grow

MANILA, Philippines — ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo has filed a resolution seeking an investigation into the dredging projects conducted by Chinese firms in Manila Bay amid concerns that the presence of the vessels may be a threat to national security.

Tulfo on Tuesday filed House Resolution No. 1171 earlier, asking the House Committees on national defense and security, ecology, and other appropriate panels to check on the reclamation projects surrounding Manila Bay.

The lawmaker made this move after talking with House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who supposedly asked which agency monitors the situation.  According to Tulfo, Romualdez received reports that workers have been leaving their vessels and joining parties at nightclubs sans a working visa, which might be a national security threat if they are members of the Chinese military.

“According to the Speaker last night, he’s wondering who is monitoring Chinese ships in Manila Bay because all of them are Chinese vessels doing the dredging, doing the reclamation.  As of the last count, they are almost 100 there; if each ship has 30 personnel, then that’s 3,000 already.  The Speaker is wondering who is watching these people, monitoring,” Tulfo said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“The news from the Speaker, what he said was like personnel was going off the vessel at night, so our national security is under threat if these people are members of the People’s Liberation Army?  What if they are members of China’s intelligence community, gathering information, videos, and pictures of vital installations? How would we fare?” he asked.

It is unclear how and when Tulfo could talk to Romualdez, who had just arrived from Jakarta, Indonesia, after attending the 44th Asian Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) general assembly.  However, Tulfo said this message was delivered through Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizadly Co.

INQUIRER.net has asked Romualdez’s office if he did relay this information to Tulfo, but the Speaker has not responded as of posting time.

According to Tulfo, it was ironic that China-owned China Communications Construction Co. (CCCC) is in charge of the dredging and reclamation operations, as it is the same company responsible for the construction of air and naval bases over Philippine-claimed territories over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Tulfo said it would be best if Romualdez invited Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to discuss the issue.

“This same company was responsible for the building of an air base and naval base of China in the West Philippine Sea, so ironic ‘di ba?  And now they are here, nagre-reclamation sila.  So how would we monitor na they’re really legitimate construction firm? Kasi they’re owned by the (Chinese) government eh,” he said.

“So the Speaker has a point and it would be good if he would ask Ambassador Huang about the solution to this problem […] to talk about this, why there are many ships already, and what we can do,” he added.

READ: US notes blacklisted China firm in Manila Bay project

Tensions between the Philippines and China have sparked again after the Chinese Coast Guard conducted a water cannon attack against a Philippine Coast Guard vessel doing a resupply mission to troops stationed at the Ayungin Shoal.

Ayungin Shoal sits in a portion of the WPS near Palawan and within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

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