China mining black sand in Zambales? AFP keeps watch

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is keeping a tight watch over possible black sand mining in Zambales, allegedly by the Chinese who might be using its iron and mineral content for military technology purposes.

“We have received these reports and have been monitoring them,” Philippine Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad told reporters yesterday.

“We are taking this very seriously, considering that black sand and rare earth minerals have military technology applications,” he added.

But Trinidad said the military is deferring to the authority of appropriate regulatory and law enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction over the matter.

“What is more concerning there is not only the extraction of black sand and, if confirmed, the dumping in the West Philippine Sea (but) its military application the moment rare earth minerals are extracted,” he explained.

“However, again, we defer to the appropriate regulatory and law enforcement agencies of the government that have jurisdiction over this,” he said.

Trinidad said what has been confirmed is the destruction of marine environment in the West Philippine Sea due to reclamation activities, particularly by the Chinese.

Meanwhile, the military announced having successfully completed 54 patrol missions “to reinforce the security and sovereignty of our waters” from Nov. 1 to 25.

“These patrols strengthen our commitment in the West Philippine Sea while ensuring seamless support for operations like maritime domain awareness, search and rescue operations and resupply missions,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines stands resolute in its mandate to uphold territorial integrity, maritime sovereignty and regional stability while serving and protecting the interests of all Filipinos,” she added.

Notably, there had been no incidents of harassment from the China Coast Guard, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Chinese maritime militia vessels during the past weeks, according to Padilla.

The AFP also noted that resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal during the period went on unmolested.

But Trinidad said the Philippine Navy continues to monitor the presence of the PLAN, the CCCG and maritime militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

“Their presence is still illegal. Their prolonged stay will not justify their presence. We have monitored them, we challenge them each time we have a maritime activity,” he said

Despite recent political issues in the country, Trinidad said the AFP has remained steadfast in performing its mandate.

“I just mentioned that for the month of November, we conducted a total of 54 different activities in the West Philippine Sea. This is a manifestation of our professionalism and we take pride in that,” he said.

“Amid all the developments of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation, I would like to say that your Armed Forces will remain loyal to the Constitution and the duly constituted civil authorities,” he stressed.

“To those who are spreading misinformation, disinformation and malinformation designed to weaken the chain of command, listen and listen well. The chain of command is intact. It is secured. It will remain intact and secured. We take pride in being military professionals,” he pointed out.