Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20) — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said the government needs to increase its fleet of offshore patrol vessels from only three to ensure protection of the West Philippine Sea.
“I think more than 20 offshore patrol vessels is what the Philippine Coast Guard needs,” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
Tarriela made the statement following the laser incident involving the PCG and the China Coast Guard (CCG) in the Ayungin Shoal on Feb. 6.
The PCG official said these vessels are able to last more than 10 days at sea, which can extend the Philippines’ presence in the contested waters.
“If you can imagine how big the entire West Philippine Sea is and we only have three offshore patrol vessels and not deployed all at the same time because they have to do rotational deployment, we have some spaces in the West Philippine Sea that we fail to patrol,” he said.
The PCG reported that the CCG aimed military-grade laser at the former’s crew members that caused temporary blindness, something that Beijing has denied.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said what was used was a “hand-held laser speed detector and hand-held greenlight pointer to measure the distance and speed of the Philippine vessel and signal directions to ensure navigation safety.”
Tarriela maintained that this was not the instrument Beijing used against the PCG personnel.
“It doesn’t appear that the one he is presenting to the public last Friday is the exact instrument that was used towards the Philippine Coast Guard vessel, and I cannot imagine how that kind of small gadget can project so much intensity of light,” he pointed out.
READ: PH rejects China claim: Laser use ‘destabilizing,’ unrestrained
He also said this was already the second time that the CCG aimed a laser against the PCG. The first time was in 2022, when the Chinese pointed a blue laser against the Philippines’ BRP Habagat, which led to temporary blindness and skin itching among the Filipino troops.
The PCG is already leaving the discussions on the incident with the Department of Foreign Affairs, which has already filed a diplomatic protest.
Aside from the acquisition of more vessels, Tarriela said the PCG is also working on including the use of laser technology in its rules on the use of force, which has to be approved by the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea.
It is also reaching out to the United States and Japan to help the PCG come up with a procedure to properly respond if an incident of this kind happens again, he added.
Tarriela said the PCG also seeks the establishment of more response bases, specifically in areas like Palawan, Subic, Mindoro, and the northern part of the Philippines to intensify its capabilities in patrolling the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
