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PH military installs markers on Cagayan islands to assert sovereignty

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Davinci Maru, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/02/24/20200924-markers-on-cagayan-islands-1-co-northern-luzon-command.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Courtesy of Northern Luzon Command</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The Philippine military recently installed 2 sovereign markers near Fuga Island in Aparri town, Cagayan to assert the country&#x27;s sovereignty.</p><p>The markers were placed in prominent areas on the islands of Mabaag and Barit, the Northern Luzon Command said in a statement released on Feb. 18. </p><p>They were in addition to 11 markers installed on uninhabited islands located north of Cagayan province last year.</p><p>&quot;These islands and their surrounding territorial waters are an integral part of the country&#x27;s territory. Thus, these markers will help us ensure that our sovereignty will be recognized in these areas,&quot; said Commodore Caesar Valencia, commander of Naval Forces Northern Luzon.</p><p>In 2019, Fuga Island drew attention over plans of <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/09/19/creeping-annexation-lorenzana-checking-on-chinese-investment-in-key-ph-isles">converting it into a commercial zone</a>, with Chinese investors bankrolling the project.</p><p>Top Navy officials had cautioned the government against pushing through with the plan, saying it could compromise national security. </p><p>The military had said it <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/28/19/govt-eyes-naval-station-in-fuga-island-amid-china-smart-city-plan">plans to put up a naval detachment</a> on Fuga Island, which is of great strategic importance to any nation wishing to monitor activity in the northern Philippines.</p><p>In August last year, the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority allayed concerns that the investment plan was meant to expand Chinese military presence.</p><p>CEZA Deputy Administrator Agrimero Cruz had <a href="https://ceza.gov.ph/article/no-chinese-investments-fuga-island-ceza">said in a statement</a> that the memorandum of understanding between CEZA and Fong Zhi Enterprises of China had expired without receiving any proposal of investment from the Chinese firm to invest on the island.</p><p>According to CEZA, the island group of Fuga, Mabaag and Barit is owned by private entities who offer these properties to investors. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/02/24/20200924-markers-on-cagayan-islands-2-co-northern-luzon-command.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Courtesy of Northern Luzon Command</em></figcaption></figure></div><div><strong>ASSERTING SOVEREIGNTY</strong></div><p>For Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., commander of the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command and concurrently Commander of Area Task Force-North, said &quot;the establishment of these sovereign markers is our proactive way of asserting our sovereignty in the northern maritime territories.&quot;</p><p>&quot;We give utmost importance to our country&#x27;s northern maritime territory, as we treat these maritime areas as a significant part of our country,&quot; he said.</p><p>Burgos vowed to protect the country&#x27;s northern territory as it is &quot;a key source of livelihood due to its abundant marine resources, and a strategic trading route to boost our economy.&quot;</p><p>The Philippines and China have unresolved disputes over the West Philippine Sea, Manila&#x27;s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims in near entirety.</p><p>China has stepped up militarization and island-building activities in the waters, shunning a July 2016 arbitration ruling invaliding its expansive 9-dash line claim to the resource-rich waters.</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oN49Z7qSloA?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The Philippine military recently installed 2 sovereign markers near Fuga Island in Aparri town, Cagayan to assert the country's sovereignty.<br /> </p>

The Philippine military recently installed 2 sovereign markers near Fuga Island in Aparri town, Cagayan to assert the country's sovereignty.

PH military installs markers on Cagayan islands to assert sovereignty

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PH military installs markers on Cagayan islands to assert sovereignty

Davinci Maru,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 24, 2021 08:10 PM PHT

Read More:

Northern Luzon Command

sovereign markers

Cagayan

Aparri

Fuga Island

Mabaag Island

Barit Island

China

military

Philippine Navy

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