‘Del Pilar retrieval won’t spark SCS tension’

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is confident the operation to extricate the BRP Gregorio del Pilar from a sandbar near Hasa-Hasa (Half Moon) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea will not create tensions with China, which is claiming the area as its own.

“It’s ongoing, with no problems from China,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said.

The Del Pilar is one of the three Hamilton-class cutters the Philippine Navy acquired from the US Coast Guard in 2011 and commissioned as flagship.

“I understand that efforts are being undertaken to retrieve the grounded Del Pilar,” Roque said.

“Let’s not speculate,” he said when asked to comment on the possibility that China might block efforts to retrieve the grounded BRP Del Pilar, the Philippine Navy’s flagship. The vessel got stuck at the shoal on the evening of Aug. 29.

Indeed, Chinese vessels are “at the scene” ready to help the Philippine Navy in the retrieval operations, said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Friday.

“China Coast Guard vessels are already at the scene. Nanhaijiu 115, specialized in maritime search and rescue, is also in nearby waters,” said Hua.

“China is discussing with the Philippines on the relevant search and rescue matters,” she added.

But Col. Noel Detoyato, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Affairs Office chief, said PCG personnel and Del Pilar crewmembers were devising ways to retrieve the grounded ship.

“We can extricate on our own as per initial assessment made by FF15 crewmembers and divers from the Philippine Coast Guard,” Detoyato said, referring to the vessel by its body number.

Roque said it was the same ship sent to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in 2012 by the previous Aquino administration to arrest Chinese poachers.

Chinese maritime surveillance vessels, however, blocked the Philippine ship and allowed the poachers escape with their illegal catch, including giant clams and baby sharks.

While preparations were being made to remove the grounded Del Pilar from Hasa Hasa Shoal, a Chinese Navy space tracking ship arrived at Sasa Port in Davao City last Aug. 31. It is expected to stay in Davao until tomorrow.

The Chinese vessel’s arrival was reportedly coordinated with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The AFP Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) said Yuan Wang 7’s port call is subject to conditions stated in a Diplomatic Note issued by the DFA.

Yuan Wang 7’s port call was the fifth by a Chinese vessel since President Duterte assumed office in 2016.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the country may not be able to afford a submarine from Russia or any other source and may have to settle for surface vessels instead.

“A submarine is very expensive. In the first place, the capital outlay is already very expensive. To maintain it is also very expensive. To man it, you need two sets of crew that will alternate in manning the submarine,” he said in response to questions raised by former Marine captain-turned lawmaker Gary Alejano of Magdalo.

A submarine is estimated to cost $300 million to $350 million, excluding armaments.

The United States, the country’s traditional ally, has raised concerns about the planned purchase of a submarine from Russia.

“I don’t think that’s a helpful thing to do (for our) alliance and I think ultimately we can be a better partner than the Russians can be,” said US Assistance Defense Secretary Randal Schriver, referring to the planned submarine purchase. – Jess Diaz, Edith Regalado, Janvic Mateo, Jaime Laude