Dennis Gasgonia

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Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - Calling it a “vital assertion” of the country’s rights, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday backed the government’s move to adopt Philippine names for maritime features in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG). </p><p>Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to use the official Filipino names of 131 features reinforces the country’s legal standing under international law.</p><p>“The President’s directive to rename the 131 features in the West Philippine Sea is a very vital assertion of our rights under UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea} and the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling,” Trinidad told defense reporters in an interview at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/4/9/coast-guard-district-in-kalayaan-island-group-to-boost-presence-in-west-ph-sea-1624"><strong>Coast Guard District in Kalayaan Island Group to boost presence in West PH Sea </strong></a></div><p>He noted that standardizing Philippine names would ensure consistency in official communications, nautical charts, and even in the education system. </p><p>“The AFP is prepared to protect and to continue our patrols to ensure that maritime security and our sovereignty and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea are protected,” the official added.</p><div> </div><p>AFP WELCOMES PCG DISTRICT IN KALAYAAN </p><p>The military also welcomed the activation of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) district in the KIG, citing improved coordination among maritime agencies.</p><p>“The Philippine Navy and the AFP for that matter welcome the civilian-led effort to enhance maritime security in the West Philippine Sea,” Trinidad said. </p><p>He went on, “The activation of a coast guard station or detachment on Pag-asa Island will allow the AFP and the PCG and other government maritime agencies closer integration when it comes to maritime security.” </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/4/1/china-opposes-philippines-renaming-kalayaan-island-group-features-1714"><strong>China opposes Philippines renaming Kalayaan Island Group features</strong></a></div><p>According to Trinidad, the setup will enable the military to focus on defense and security operations, while the PCG leads efforts on maritime law enforcement, safety of life at sea, and protection of Filipino fishermen.</p><div> </div><p>AFP CONDEMNS CHINA FIRING FLARES AT PCG AIRCRAFT </p><p>Meanwhile, the AFP denounced the recent firing of flares by Chinese forces against a PCG aircraft conducting a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight in the West Philippine Sea, describing the act as unlawful and dangerous.</p><p>“The activity of the PCG was legal. It was within the bounds of domestic law and international law,” Trinidad said. “The firing of flares by the Chinese Communist Party is illegal, unprofessional and unsafe.”</p><p>“These actions are designed to regularize or normalize their illegal presence in our maritime domain,” he added.</p><p>The incident specifically occurred near Zamora Reef (Subic Reef) and Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef)—features that Beijing has since developed into artificial militarized islands—on Thursday, April 9.</p><div> </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/31/131-features-of-kalayaan-island-group-to-have-local-names-2046"><strong>131 features of Kalayaan Island Group to have local names </strong></a></div><p>Despite the incident, the AFP said it will continue its patrols.</p><p>“We will not be deterred from performing our functions—our mandate of patrolling the seas and the skies—in spite of all of these illegal, coercive, and aggressive actions being done against us,” Trinidad stressed. “We will be there to protect and to show the Philippine flag.”</p><div> </div><div><br/></div><div>  </div>

<p>Calling it a “vital assertion” of the country’s rights, the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday backed the government’s move to adopt Philippine names for maritime features in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).</p>

Calling it a “vital assertion” of the country’s rights, the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday backed the government’s move to adopt Philippine names for maritime features in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

AFP: Naming 131 features in WPS ‘vital assertion’ of PH rights

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AFP: Naming 131 features in WPS ‘vital assertion’ of PH rights

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 10, 2026 04:23 PM PHT

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Kalayaan Island Group

West Philippine Sea

China

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad

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