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PH deploys BRP Gabriela Silang to Batanes, Benham Rise

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/nolcom1.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo courtesy of NOLCOM</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — The Philippine Coast Guard has deployed the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) for a two-week mission to Batanes and Benham Rise starting Monday, March 4, 2024. </p><p>According to PCG spokesperson CG Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, the vessel will patrol the vicinity waters to conduct maritime domain awareness, intensify Coast Guard presence in Northern Luzon, and monitor local fishermen. </p><p>&quot;We will also check the reported Chinese research vessels in Benham Rise,&quot; CG Rear Admiral Balilo furthered. </p><p>National Security Council Director General Jonathan Malaya also told state television PTV that BRP Gabriela Silang will “conduct law enforcement activities.”</p><p>“We already directed the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy to visit the Philippine Rise immediately,” he told state television PTV.</p><p>“The task of the PCG is to enforce the law. Ibig sabihin itataboy natin kapag may vessels pang namataan,” he said.</p><p>“The Philippine Navy is also doing the same… Magpapadala din tayo ng additional eroplano para imonitor ang area,” he added.</p><p>Meanwhile, air assets of the Coast Guard Aviation Force are on standby for possible augmentation, specifically in performing aerial surveillance. </p><p>A US maritime analyst earlier said 2 Chinese research vessels were detected &quot;loitering&quot; at the resource-rich Philippine Rise east of Luzon.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/3/chinese-research-vessels-loitering-at-philippine-rise-analyst-1136">READ: Chinese research vessels &#x27;loitering&#x27; at Philippine Rise: analyst</a></div><p>In a post on X, former United States Air Force official and ex-Defense Attaché Ray Powell said the Chinese vessels Haiyang Dizhi Liuhao and Haiyang Dizhi Shihao sailed from Longque Island in Guangzhou province on February 26 and moved east-southeast through the Luzon Strait.</p><p>Based on the map he showed, the vessels sailed between Basco, Batanes, and islands off the main island of Luzon.</p><div><strong>EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS</strong></div><p>The Philippines is “concerned” over the entry of the Chinese research vessels in the exclusive economic zone of the country as they did not seek Manila’s permission to pass through these waters, Malaya said.</p><p>“The Philippines is the only country that has rights over that area. Wala silang karapatang magresearch doon, gumawa ng ano mang exploration without the express consent of the Philippines,” he said.</p><p>“If they are conducting marine research in an area, that is an illegal act on the part of these two ships. We condemn that kind of activity in that area,” he said.</p><p>The Philippine Rise is a 24-million hectare area that has been declared as one of the Philippines’ “protected food supply” areas.</p><p>The Philippine Rise, which is “half the size of the Philippine landmass,” boasts of a rich biodiversity, and has potential mineral and gas deposits.</p><div><strong>SWARMING</strong></div><p>Meantime, the Philippines is also monitoring the swarming of Chinese vessels near the Julian Felipe Reef near Palawan, Malaya said.</p><p>“The swarming sometimes is the beginning of artificial islands in the area pero so far wala pa tayong nakikitang indikasyon ng reclamation,” he said.</p><p>The Julian Felipe Reef — internationally known as the Whitson Reef — is situated near the Reed Bank, which is known for its natural gas deposits, he said. </p><p>Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has called for increased military presence in Batanes, calling the northernmost province “the spearhead of the Philippines.”</p><p>Naval Forces Northern Luzon said Teodoro wants more structures in the province after inspecting Naval Detachment Basco, Naval Detachment Mavulis, Itbayat Airport, and the Multi-Agency Facility in Mahatao.—<strong>with a report from Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/11/dnd-batanes-buildup-plans-none-of-china-s-business-1456">DND: Batanes buildup plans none of China&#x27;s business</a></div><div><br/></div><div style="overflow-wrap:break-word;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><div style="line-height:1.334;color:black;margin:0px;overflow:hidden"><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oQJtFX5oA4U?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div></div></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine Coast Guard has deployed the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) for a two-week mission to Batanes and Benham Rise starting Monday, March 4, 2024.</p>

The Philippine Coast Guard has deployed the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) for a two-week mission to Batanes and Benham Rise starting Monday, March 4, 2024.