Jaehwa Bernardo

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomes U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a courtesy call at Kalayaan Hall, Malacañan Palace, on March 28, 2025. This marks the first visit  by a high-ranking official from the Trump Administration to the Philippines, with a focus on security cooperation. Hegseth's visit to the Philippines is part of a broader Indo-Pacific tour aimed at reinforcing regional partnerships. Yummie Dingding, PPA pool

Article (news)

Marcos orders probe on PH sand used for China's WPS reclamation

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174659936980820250328bbm-hegseth-visit-HO5.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Yummie Dingding, PPA pool"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. <em>Yummie Dingding, PPA pool</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a probe into reports that sand gathered from parts of the Philippines is being used for Chinese reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Ashley Acedillo told a hearing of the Senate’s Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones that sand was being dredged from Manila Bay and other areas of the Philippines for Chinese island-building.</p><p>“[A]s a matter of fact, doon po sa mga disputed areas natin,” Acedillo was quoted as saying.</p><p>(As a matter of fact, this is being done in our disputed areas)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/6/china-increased-presence-activities-in-bajo-de-masinloc-in-past-year-think-tank-1546">China increased presence, activities in Bajo de Masinloc in past year: think tank<br/></a></div><p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told media Wednesday that an investigation is underway and that it will look into the potential liability of local government officials where the dredging was done.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/08/01/23/us-embassy-flags-chinese-firm-in-manila-bay-reclamation">US Embassy flags Chinese firm in Manila Bay reclamation<br/></a></div><p>“Kung mayroon pong dapat managot, ito naman din naman po ang bilin ng Pangulo — hindi po puwedeng iwasan ang mga tao, kung may dapat panagutin dapat pong managot,” she said.</p><p>(If anyone is found liable, and this is also what the President ordered — we will not spare anyone — those who need to be held accountable will be held accountable)</p><p>The Philippine Coast Guard has long sounded the alarm on Chinese reclamation activities in parts of the West Philippine Sea — the area of the South China Sea in the Philippines&#x27; exclusive economic zone — including the Pag-asa cays and Escoda Shoal.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/4/pag-asa-cays-in-degraded-state-over-new-island-building-activities-study-1431">Pag-asa cays in ‘degraded state’ over new island-building activities: study</a></div><p>“Sino ba among countries in the South China Sea ang meron talagang walang pakundangang pagsira ng marine environment? It’s only China. Sino lang ba ang puwede nating ituro lahat? China lang,” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said in 2024 of coral dumping at Escoda Shoal that left it in a &quot;degraded state.&quot;</p><p>(Who among the countries in the South China Sea who have no qualms about destroying the marine environment? It&#x27;s only China. Who else can we point at? Just China)</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></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/zT-oAtf-mD8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a probe into reports that sand gathered from different municipalities in the Philippines are being used for Chinese reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a probe into reports that sand gathered from different municipalities in the Philippines are being used for Chinese reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea.