The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) drove away an unauthorized foreign fishing vessel from the waters of Kota Island on Sunday, October 18, according to PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela.
The PCG said its High-Speed Response Boat (HSRB-019) spotted the vessel about 1.75 nautical miles northwest-northwest of the island, within the country’s 12-nautical-mile territorial sea.
The HSRB-019 responded to support two PCG rubber boats that had earlier engaged the foreign vessel.
Coast Guard personnel repeatedly issued radio challenges and directed the vessel to leave the area until it withdrew without incident.
The PCG said that Kota Island is part of the Municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan, and that unauthorized fishing by foreign vessels is prohibited within the Philippines’ territorial sea.
“Kota Island is an integral part of the Municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan. Under international law, the Philippines exercises full sovereignty over its territorial sea, where no foreign vessel may fish without authorization. Such activities also violate the Philippine Fisheries Code and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act,” the PCG stressed.
Under the leadership of PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, the agency said it would continue maritime patrols and surveillance in the Kalayaan Island Group in coordination with the Philippine Marine Corps to protect Philippine waters and the rights of Filipino fishermen.
The agency noted that the deployment of HSRB-019 enhances the PCG’s capability to respond swiftly to maritime intrusions and protect Philippine territorial waters.
“This operation was carried out in accordance with the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who has consistently stressed that the government will continue to uphold the 2016 Arbitral Award and defend the country's maritime territory and the rights of Filipino fishermen,” the PCG noted.
The latest operation marked the PCG’s fourth effort in three weeks to drive away foreign vessels from the waters off Kota Island.
On September 28, the Coast Guard drove away Chinese Maritime Militia Vessel 9622 and 24 small boats, or sampans, reportedly deployed by the vessel to conduct unauthorized fishing near the island.
The same Chinese maritime militia vessel returned on October 9 with 22 sampans but was again driven away by PCG personnel.
Two days later, on October 11, the Coast Guard, with the Philippine Navy and Philippine Marine Corps, drove away five foreign fishing vessels spotted within Kota Island’s territorial sea.
