PCG completes escort duty for research ship in Reed Bank

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard said it has completed its escort-duty for a research ship of the Department of Energy (DOE) harassed some two weeks ago by two Chinese vessels near Reed Bank in Palawan.

PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said the two search and rescue vessels, BRP San Juan and BRP Nueva Vizcaya, have sailed back to Puerto Princesa City in Palawan nine days after providing escort to M/V Venture.

“The Philippine Coast Guard has as of today completed their SAR vessels’ escorting mission for DOE–contracted vessels which conducted marine survey or research works in duly specified area in the vicinity of Reed Bank west of Palawan,” Tamayo said.

PCG spokesman Lieutenant Commander Arman Balilo said “there were no reports of any untoward incident” during the escort mission.

But Tamayo said he has placed the two PCG vessels under the operational control of the PCG District in Palawan to help in marine and environmental protection, particularly in ensuring that exploration projects strictly follow environmental laws.

Tamayo said the deployment of the two ships was in compliance with President Aquino’s orders. On board the PCG ships were Special Operations Group (SOG) divers and medical personnel.

On March 2, two Chinese patrol boats tried to “sandwich” the Venture at Reed Bank in the disputed Spratlys. Reed Bank is within the country’s 320-kilometer exclusive economic zone, but is also being claimed by China and Vietnam.