Dozens of Chinese vessels have recently been frequenting the waters near Pagasa (Thitu) Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a military commander reported on Sunday, Nov. 21. Vice Admiral Ramil Roberto Enriquez, commander of the Western Command (WesCom) in Palawan, said at least 26 maritime militia vessels and one coast guard ship from China were spotted near Pagasa Island on Saturday when presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson went there. The ships were close enough that Lacson and his team visibly monitored them from afar. “’Iyon nga ang nangyayari sa Pagasa, mayroon talaga silang mga ganoon na tandem pero sa ibang lugar naman ay mga militia vessels (That’s what’s happening on Pagasa, there were really tandems like that but in other areas, there were only militia vessels),” Enriquez said over radio dzBB.

Sadongdong, M. A. (2021, November 22). Chinese vessels inch closer to Pagasa Island. Manila Bulletin, p. 3.