The Armed Forces of the Philippines “has never left” the vicinity of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), said on Tuesday. Trinidad made the clarification in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo after the National Maritime Council (NMC) ruled out the deployment of Philippine Navy warships to Panatag Shoal, saying such a move would be “warlike” and risk escalating tensions with China.

Dumalag, G., & Mendoza, J. E. (2025, August 20). WPS spox clarifies: AFP has never left Panatag. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A6.