President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not allow the Philippines to lose control of disputed Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) and is closely monitoring developments in the area, Malacañang said on Thursday following reports of a Chinese floating structure in the area.
During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro assured the public that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains committed to protecting the country's interests in the West Philippine Sea amid concerns that the Philippines is gradually losing control of Bajo de Masinloc.
“Hindi po hahayaan ng pangulo na mangyari po ‘yan. Alam po natin ang totoong stance ng Pangulo pagdating sa interes ng mga Pilipino at interes natin dito sa West Philippine Sea,” Castro said.
She added that Marcos is aware of reports regarding a floating structure in Bajo de Masinloc and continues to favor diplomatic and legal measures in addressing maritime disputes.
“Alam po ng Pangulo ang nangyayari at nananatiling malinaw ang kanyang paninindigan na unahin ang paggamit ng diplomatiko at legal na hakbang sa pagharap ng ganitong klaseng sitwasyon,” she said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has already taken diplomatic action regarding the reported structure.
According to Castro, the DFA formally lodged a diplomatic protest against China’s floating movable platform reportedly found in Bajo de Masinloc.
“Ang DFA ay pormal na naghain ng diplomatic protest laban sa floating movable platform ng China dito sa Bajo de Masinloc,“ Castro said.
“Tuloy pa rin ang paninindigan kung ano ang ating karapatan at kung ano ang ating dapat ipaglaban,” she added.
Bajo de Masinloc, located in the West Philippine Sea, has long been a source of tension between the Philippines and China due to overlapping territorial claims. The latest development comes as the Philippine government continues to assert its maritime rights through diplomatic and legal channels.
