Manila has every right to enforce its laws against Beijing amid the ongoing escalation between both countries in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), according to Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad.
Trinidad said Manila has various ways to implement its laws like the deployment of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Philippine National Police Maritime Group for maritime law enforcement. This is on top of the Navy itself for defense and security in the area.
“We have many ways to enforce the law. There are different instrumentalities of the government,” Trinidad said in an interview at the celebration of 8th anniversary of the Arbitral Awards of the Philippines in Permanent Court of Arbitration in Manila Polo Club.
He added that the Philippines monitored a slight decrease of Chinese vessels in the area “from 95 to 94 in PLAN ships, Coast Guard, and Maritime Militia.”
According to Trinidad, Chinese ships were monitored on the nine water features of the country in the WPS such as Escoda, Shoal, and Julian Felipe Reef, among others.
He also reiterated that China’s claim that BRP Sierra Madre is causing environmental damage in the area is only a false narrative coinciding with Manila’s victory eight years ago.
On the issue of the passing of joint PLAN-Russian Navy patrol in Philippine Sea, Trinidad said that the Navy monitored its presence and it was only a simple passage.
