MANILA — The Philippine Navy (PN) said it has received reports of underwater structures in Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and is verifying the information.

“We have received reports of certain structures underwater, which we are verifying,” PN spokesperson for the WPS, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.

Trinidad recalled that in 1997, the PN successfully stopped an “attempt” by China to build a steel structure in the area.

“In the past, in 1997, there was an attempt to erect a steel structure by the Chinese Communist Party, which was blown up by our PN forces,” he said.

He added that previous reported sightings of building blocks in Bajo de Masinloc turned out to be remnants of structures placed as targets when U.S. forces had bases in the Philippines.

“Upon further checking, these were blocks that were installed during the time of the presence of US bases when Bajo de Masinloc was still as a bombing range by the US Air Force, the US Navy, and I believe by the Philippine Air Force,” Trinidad said.

Last month, the Chinese government announced that its State Council had approved the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources’ request to establish a reserve in Bajo de Masinloc, which it plans to call the Huangyan Dao National Nature Reserve.

The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, strongly protested China’s plan, emphasizing that only Manila can establish a marine protected area in Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal.