Ched Rick Gatchalian

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard participate during a training on navigation, small boat operations, maintenance, and logistical operations in the West Philippine Sea in Palawan on April 24, 2021. 
Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard 

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard participate during a training on navigation, small boat operations, maintenance, and logistical operations in the West Philippine Sea in Palawan on April 24, 2021. 
Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard (MANDATORY CREDIT)

Article (news)

‘It is ours’: National Maritime Council says no need to raise PH flag on Sandy Cay

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174798316625420210425-pcg-training-west-ph-sea-pcg-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Members of the Philippine Coast Guard participate during a training on navigation, small boat operations, maintenance, and logistical operations in the West Philippine Sea in Palawan on April 24, 2021. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard </div>MANILA – The National Maritime Council on Friday said Philippine authorities do not need to raise the country’s flag on Sandy Cay (Pag-asa Cay 2) since the area is inside Philippine territory.“We don’t need [to raise our flag] kasi atin naman iyon. We have done that before so no need to do that again,” NMC spokesperson Undersecretary Alexander Lopez said in a media interview on the sidelines of the Dialogue on ASEAN Maritime Security (DAMS) in Pasay City.Lopez also denied that China unfurled its flag once again in the area, contrary to a video released by China’s state-run English newspaper, Global Times, early Friday morning.Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said China’s assertion that it has seized Sandy Cay lacks substantiated evidence.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/22/china-coast-guard-used-water-cannoned-sideswiped-ph-research-vessel-bfar-1652">Philippines says China Coast Guard fired water cannon, &#x27;sideswiped&#x27; govt vessel</a></div>“There is no proof to that na kung sasabihin na naman nilang they have seized control of Pag-asa Cays,” Tarriela told reporters.The government expressed grave concern over the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) recent unlawful interference and aggressive actions against Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels conducting marine scientific research near Pag-asa Island.CCG 21559 blocked, fired water cannon and sideswiped BRP Datu Sanday in the vicinity of Sandy Cay on Wednesday, May 21.BRP Datu Sanday was conducting the mission with BRP Datu Pagbuaya.CCG 21559, meanwhile, was supported by another CCG ship and Chinese maritime militia vessels.Despite being harassed, the BFAR vessels were able to complete their mission.“Yes, despite the harassment ng Chinese Coast Guard and the presence of Chinese maritime militia dito sa surrounding Pag-asa Cays, ang ating marine scientists na sumama sa BFAR mission na ito were successful in getting sand samples for the marine scientific research that they are currently conducting,” Tarriela noted.It was the first time a water cannon was used against BFAR research vessels in the area of the Pag-asa Cays.<div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/28/-we-have-not-lost-pag-asa-cays-philippines-debunks-china-s-claim-of-seizing-sandy-cay-1334">Philippines denies China seizure of Sandy Cay</a></div>Sandy Cay is located within the territorial sea of the Philippines in the area of Pag-asa Island, which is part of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the West Philippine Sea.“What we did is a legitimate operation. Ang Pag-asa Cays falls within the territorial waters ng Pag-asa, meaning, we have sovereignty over these waters. There&#x27;s no reason for us to ask permission from the Chinese government. They are 100 nautical miles away from that particular location,” Tarriela stressed.The official also assured that despite the incident, the government will not be deterred in conducting marine scientific research in the West Philippine Sea.

The National Maritime Council on Friday said Philippine authorities do not need to raise the country’s flag on Sandy Cay (Pag-asa Cay 2), stressing that “it is ours.”

The National Maritime Council on Friday said Philippine authorities do not need to raise the country’s flag on Sandy Cay (Pag-asa Cay 2), stressing that “it is ours.”

'It is ours': National Maritime Council says no need to raise PH flag on Sandy Cay

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'It is ours': National Maritime Council says no need to raise PH flag on Sandy Cay

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 23, 2025 03:14 PM PHT

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