There’s no question in the minds of the Filipino people that Scarborough Shoal just 120 miles off Zambales belongs to the Philippines, which China and some other ASEAN nations are also claiming. This is why after so many decades, thanks to an inutile United Nations (UN) that cannot even resolve these simple border disputes, every now and then this area becomes a flash point and that’s exactly what happened last Tuesday.
But China was never as belligerent as it is today, thanks to the reality that due to its great phenomenal economic growth, it has increased its military strength to the point that Chinese Naval vessels now regularly ply these disputed isles… seeking some kind of confrontation just to show off their military might… and that’s exactly what the Philippine Navy got last week.
From the reports we gathered, the Philippine Navy troops boarded a Chinese fishing vessel that was loaded with endangered clam shells and corals, including baby sharks in what I would like to believe was a legitimate apprehension and I salute the Philippine Navy for boarding that Chinese vessel. However a Chinese Naval “Surveillance” vessel blocked the Philippine Navy successfully and to our dismay, the country’s newest and largest Naval vessel the BRP Gregorio del Pilar was pulled out of the scene. This sent questions reeling in the minds of many pundits… why the hasty retreat?
For many decades the Philippine Navy was in a sorry state… and became the butt of jokes that we have a Navy that doesn’t float! Last year, amidst pomp and splendor, this former US Hamilton Class Coast Guard Cutter was transferred to the Philippine Navy that no less than President Aquino and Navy Chief Vice-Admiral Alexander Pama accepted it with pride, despite it being 47 years old. It was newer than the other similar sized vessels in our Navy’s inventory.
So why was the BRP Gregorio del Pilar pulled out of a potential firefight with the smaller Chinese Navy vessels? From an ANC news report, I heard Vice-Admiral Pama say that the vessel was pulled out because the crew needed food and refueling. I would like to believe that the Navy would have adopted the Boy Scouts motto. “Be Prepared!” But I suspect there’s more to this statement coming from the Navy chief. He might be hiding some realities that the Navy’s flagship wasn’t really ready for combat.
Few people know that when this vessel was given to the Philippine Navy, the US Coast Guard removed the ship’s Phalanx Close-in-Weapons System (CIWS) and its 2 Mk.38 M242 Bushmaster 25 mm chain guns. These two weapons alone would have made mince meat out of the small Chinese Navy vessels. This was one time that the Philippine Navy had a superior ship against the Chinese Navy… unless of course they didn’t tell us that there was another and bigger Chinese Naval vessel lurking in the neighborhood.
Please don’t get me wrong, I’m no war freak and I fully concur with the view of Pres. PNoy that this problem should have a diplomatic solution. However I would like to believe that since the Philippine Navy has a new vessel, it should never ran away from a fight for any reason… especially when it comes to protecting our sovereignty. Food can be airlifted, while fuel can be shipped to the Navy ship. Clearly from our point of view, the Philippine Navy is not ready for combat duty even with their newly-acquired vessels!
In my book, Vice-Admiral Pama has a lot of explaining to do for pulling out the BRP Gregorio del Pilar because this is not going to be the last time that the Chinese Navy will drop the gauntlet on the Philippine Navy and challenge them to a fight. If Vice-Admiral Pama doesn’t have the guts to put up and fight anyone sniffing in Philippine territorial waters, then I suggest that he should quit now while the quitting is good. Sending the Search and Rescue vessel BRP Pampanga was not a good replacement for the BRP Gregorio del Pilar. In my book, it was a wrong or a potentially fatal move!
While we’re having a possible naval skirmish near Philippine Territory, we are also having another problems with that rocket that was launched early morning yesterday. While many appreciate the fact that the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) has busied themselves in preparing the nation just in case that rocket would crash into Philippine territory, however the NDRRMC went overboard in making those preparations. Good thing that rocket failed in its launch!
But having a No-Fly” zone is the height of paranoia. The chance of getting hit by rocket debris, which is the size of a small airliner, is a million to one chance. You have a better chance of winning two grand lotto’s than getting hit by that North Korean rocket. The Coast Guard too went overboard in enforcing a “No-fishing” policy by preventing fishermen from doing their livelihood. This has now caused an artificial increase in seafood market prices… something that our people do not need in these difficult times. I call this stupid! How I wish they prepared this way for Typhoon “Sendong”!
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For email responses to this article, write to vsbobita@mo-pzcom.com or vsbobita@gmail.com. His columns can be accessed through www.philstar.com.