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 pagkuha ng corals at pagdurog nito. Iyong pagpatay kasi ng corals ay prelude sa isang bagay— pag pinatay mo iyon, pwede ka nang mag-reclaim (Perhaps there's a different plan there, not just harvesting and destroying corals.…

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.   AFP Western Command commander Vice Admiral Alberto Carlo shared the alarming observation to the public…

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 HMCS Ottawa docked at the Subic Freeport Zone to show "a demonstration of the close and growing relationship between Canada and the Philippines,"…

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 Rozul (Iroquios) Reef with 23 Chinese fishing vessels present, Escoda (Sabina) Shoal with five vessels and in Baragatan (Nares) Bank, with two vessels during the aerial patrols conducted on Sept.…