Headlines

Tolentino sees WPS coral harvesting as a prelude to reclamation
Sen. Francis “Tol” Tolentino believes there's something deeper in China's coral harvesting endeavors in Iroquios or Rozul Reef in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), saying that it might be a prelude to reclamation. “May iba pang plano siguro po riyan, di lang ‘yong...

‘Walang natira’: AFP suspects China behind massive coral harvesting in Rozul Reef
Released / WESCOM MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed that the Rozul Reef — an area within West Philippine Sea where Chinese vessels were seen swarming — has been completely stripped off of its naturally occurring corals. ...

Canadian navy’s advanced warship arrives in PH; two more coming
A Canadian navy ship equipped with advanced weapon and sensor systems arrived in the Philippines on Thursday, Sep. 14, as one of the three vessels that Ottawa is sending to the country to flex its military might in the Indo-Pacific. The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN)'s...
Latest Reports

Heightened swarming activities of Chinese fishing vessels monitored in 3 WPS key areas
Chinese fishing vessels continue to swarm in three key areas in the West Philippine Sea, the Western Command (Wecom) has disclosed citing its recent aerial patrols. In a statement, the Wescom said the heightened presence of Chinese fishing vessels were noticed in...

Teodoro: China’s expansionist policy escalates tension in West PH Sea
China’s expansionist policy is what is causing the escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea and not the engagement of the Philippines with other countries that include the United States, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said. “In terms of the Philippines,...

Senate maritime panel told: ‘Greater West PH Sea’ sounds good, but int’l recognition unlikely
“Can Congress change the name of the West Philippine Sea to Greater West Philippine Sea?” Senator Francis Tolentino raised this question on Thursday, September 14 as he broached the idea of renaming the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in a bid to strengthen the country’s...

Bartender, senior citizen drown in Batangas
CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – A 24-year-old bartender and a 65-year-old man drowned while swimming in Nasugbu and Balete in Batangas province, police reported on Wednesday, September 13. The Police Regional Office 4-A identified the victims as Mark Andrew Famor,...

P100M worth of illegal fish catch, vessels seized by gov’t operatives in Lucena City
TWO purse seine vessels, paraphernalia, and fish harvest with an estimated market worth of more than Php 100 million were seized by Philippine law enforcement authorities today, 09 September 2023, off the coast of Tayabas Bay in Lucena City. Coast Guard...

Tolentino: PH not a US proxy in conflict vs. China
Metro Manila (September 10) — Amid rising tensions between Manila and Beijing, Senator Francis Tolentino said the Philippines would not become a tool, or surrogate, for other nations to use against China. “Hindi po proxy war kasi hindi lang naman United States...

Karma at sea: Chinese boat gets stuck in Ayungin
MANILA, Philippines — In what the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) described as karma, a Chinese watercraft got involved in a mishap while taking part in a maneuver by other Chinese vessels to stop a resupply mission for a Philippine military outpost in Ayungin...

AFP needs to acquire a submarine – official
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) needs to acquire big-ticket naval assets such as a submarine to help the country build a credible defense posture in light of the territorial and maritime issues in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). AFP spokesperson Col. Medel...

AFP: Chinese boat stuck in Ayungin rejects PH help, blames Coast Guard
MANILA — The Philippine Navy offered to help a Chinese rubber boat in distress in Ayungin Shoal only to be scorned and blamed for the incident, Col. Medel Aguilar, military spokesperson, said on Saturday. One of China’s Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats was entangled in a...

PH, Australia vow to protect rules-based order in Indo-Pacific
The Philippines and Australia have joined hands to ensure a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific as the two sides expressed the importance of their role as maritime nations. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Australian Prime Minister Antony...

In cat and mouse game, Philippines resupplies troops in South China Sea atoll
The Philippines has completed a supply mission for troops stationed in a rusty World War II-era ship, but not without a usual cat and mouse chase with Chinese vessels in the South China Sea. Reuters went onboard one of the Philippine Coast Guard’s vessels escorting...

PH concludes new resupply mission to Ayungin after continued ‘harassment’ by China
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 8) — The Philippines successfully conducted a new resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal on Friday, but not without another attempt by China to block the trip, the government said. The National Task Force for...

China confirms shadowing PH vessels in Ayungin Shoal
In a statement, the China Coast Guard (CCG) maintained that it would continue “to carry out law enforcement activities in the sea areas under China’s jurisdiction according to law.” This came after it shadowed two replenishment ships from the Philippine Coast Guard...