MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it is coordinating with other government agencies to verify reports of a possible structure allegedly linked to China in Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea.

AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Navy reservist Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said the report is still undergoing validation.

“There was a report on a possible structure or equipment on BDM. This is currently being validated by different government agencies. At the appropriate time, this will be answered by the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTFWPS),” he said in a briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Trinidad said earlier reports described a “small reflective object” spotted near the lagoon entrance of Bajo de Masinloc, but stressed that the information remains unconfirmed.

“The report is still raw. It is still being validated by different government agencies. And the moment that it is validated or it is debunked, then the appropriate statement will be issued by the NTFWPS,” he said.

He added that there are currently no reports of Chinese dredging vessels or specialized ships operating in the area, nor any aggressive actions against Philippine vessels near the feature.

“What has been monitored is the presence of the PLAN (People’s Liberation Army Navy) and the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG),” he said.

Trinidad also reported that the Philippine Navy monitored 21,751 vessels passing through Philippine waters in May 2026, including 4,054 domestic and 17,697 foreign vessels.

He said 15,426 vessels responded to radio challenges, while 6,325 did not, as part of ongoing maritime monitoring efforts.

In the West Philippine Sea, the Navy recorded the presence of 82 Chinese vessels across key features, including Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal, Escoda Shoal, and Pag-asa Islands.

Trinidad said these activities underscore continued “illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive” actions in the area, which he said challenge the Philippines’ maritime rights.

The AFP said it remains committed to strengthening maritime domain awareness, inter-agency coordination, and operational presence to protect national sovereignty and maintain stability in the West Philippine Sea.