The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has resumed sending patrol vessels to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, but only to “test the waters” and not to confront the Chinese who have stopped harassing Filipino fishermen but remained in control of the area, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said yesterday. He said the Coast Guard would merely be conducting a “roving inspection,” and that the possibility of a confrontation “is farthest from our mind right now.” The Department of Transportation has jurisdiction over the PCG. The PCG suspended deployment in the area at the height of Typhoon Karen and later Super Typhoon Lawin and in deference to President Duterte’s state visit to Beijing last month.

Nilles, G., Macairan, E., Laude, J., Sison, B., Jr., Lee-Brago, P., & Visperas, E. (2016, November 4). Coast Guard off to Panatag. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 8.