MANILA — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), with personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) onboard, conducted a routine Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) to monitor activities in the area and protect Filipino fishermen.

The flight, which departed from Puerto Princesa International Airport, recorded multiple foreign vessels in Philippine waters:

• Zamora Reef: One Chinese hospital ship, two China Coast Guard vessels, and 29 Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels (CMMVs), with three flares fired toward the aircraft.
• Pag-asa Cay: One Vietnamese research/fishing survey vessel, KN-374.
• Rurok Island: Two Vietnamese fishing vessels and one Vietnam Coast Guard vessel.
• Julian Felipe Reef: 38 Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels.
• Pagkakaisa Banks: 34 Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels.
• Panganiban Reef: Unidentified vessels inside the lagoon.
• Escoda Shoal: One People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel (BN 539), which issued repeated radio challenges against the BFAR aircraft.

BFAR and PCG stressed that the flights are conducted under Philippine law and international regulations, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award, to monitor the marine environment, assess fisheries, and ensure fishermen’s safety.

Separately, the PCG continued its maritime patrol off Zambales with the deployment of the 44-meter BRP Cape San Agustin (MRRV-4408), which replaced BRP Cabra. The vessel pushed the Chinese Coast Guard ship CCG-3303 approximately 135 nautical miles off the Zambales coastline, while CCG-3305 and CCG-3502 were monitored for loitering in the area.

PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said personnel remain resolute in defending the Philippines’ maritime sovereignty and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, even under challenging sea conditions, in line with directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.