MANILA— The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) drove away an unauthorized foreign fishing vessel from the territorial waters of Kota Island on Oct. 18 after detecting it about 1.75 nautical miles northwest of the island.

The PCG said its High-Speed Response Boat HSRB-019 was heading to Kota Island on the morning of Oct. 18 when it spotted the vessel within the island’s 12-nautical-mile territorial sea.

HSRB-019 immediately moved to reinforce two PCG rubber boats already engaging the foreign vessel. The three boats maintained a close presence and repeatedly instructed the vessel by radio to leave the area.

The foreign fishing vessel eventually withdrew without any untoward incident, after which the PCG boats returned to Kota Island.

The operation marked the PCG’s fourth effort in three weeks to drive away foreign vessels from Kota Island, following similar incidents involving Chinese Maritime Militia Vessel 9622 and its sampans on Sept. 28 and Oct. 9, as well as five foreign fishing vessels on Oct. 11.

On Oct. 15, the PCG also drove away a Chinese fishing vessel and four small boats from the waters of Lawak Island.

Kota Island is part of the Municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan. The PCG said the Philippines exercises full sovereignty over its territorial sea under international law, where foreign vessels are prohibited from fishing without authorization.

The agency added that unauthorized fishing activities also violate the Philippine Fisheries Code and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.

Under PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, the deployment of HSRB-019 is intended to strengthen the agency’s capacity to respond swiftly to maritime intrusions.

The PCG said it would continue monitoring the Kalayaan Island Group in coordination with the Philippine Marine Corps.

The operation was conducted in line with the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who has consistently emphasized the government’s commitment to upholding the 2016 Arbitral Award and defending the country’s maritime territory and the rights of Filipino fishermen.