The Philippines is still in control of Sandy Cay, contrary to claims by Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio that it has been taken over by the Chinese, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said yesterday. “No it’s not true. It’s still there, nobody is occupying it. It’s within sight of our Pag-Asa Island. They are not occupied by anybody,” Lorenzana told reporters at the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) headquarters in South Harbor. The military sees Sandy Cay as a buffer for Pag-Asa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

Romero, A. (2019, July 26). Lorenzana refutes Carpio's claims on Sandy Cay. The Philippine Star, p. 8.