MANILA — Philippine marine scientists have found depressions or sunken areas on the ocean floor of Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea that appear to be man-made. 

Prof. Jonathan Anticamara of the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology said the appearance of the depressions, which are “a little bit deeper,” are “not a natural process” and someone might have excavated the ocean floor for sampling purposes, usually of corals. 

“That’s not a natural process, ‘yong ganon na klase ng pagkahukay kasi talagang medyo a little bit deeper, talagang kinuha ‘yong mga corals from ilalim tapos na-expose na sila ngayon. So, I think that’s really a man-made,” he told reporters in a media briefing on Saturday, noting that some Chinese divers were earlier spotted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the area. 

Marine researchers, led by Anticamara, recently went for a two-day science mission in Escoda to evaluate the marine environment following the discovery of the PCG of dumped crushed corals, which its spokesperson Commode Jay Tarriela suspected to be a prelude of China’s reclamation activity. 

PCG: Escoda Shoal in sorry state after coral dumping for reclamation attempt

“[It’s] a little bit worrying because of the extensive damage of corals under water,” Anticamara said. 

“We actually need to do some concrete actions to ensure that we can conserve, recover, and restore degraded coral reefs in the Philippines,” he said. 

Chinese Coast Guard chases PCG, marine scientists in Escoda Shoal

However, Anticamara said there is no enough proof of reclamation activity in Escoda, noting that the piling up of dead corals could be a natural phenomenon. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin has also denied the reclamation activity, calling it a “sheer rumor.” 

PCG stands by its China reclamation claims in Escoda Shoal

“Puwede, posibleng natural,” Anticamara said. “Kung madaming mga basag na corals diyan ngayon, gaya nu’ng pagkamatay ng mga corals sa Escoda, I would expect na kung hindi ito mapupunta sa ilalim ng dagat, ‘yong mga coming na typhoon or itong season na ito  na tag-ulan na, tag-bagyo na, most likely, itong mga rubble na ito, mag-pile up; that would be a natural piling up.” 

Maritime law expert Prof. Jay Batongbacal of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea said the Philippines should be careful in identifying the natural and artificial occurrences. 

“‘Yong pinakita na ilang areas, puwedeng naturally-formed ‘yon kasi nangyayari din talaga ‘yon. Kaya nga dapat maingat tayo doon sa evidence natin, ma-distinguish natin kung ano alin ‘yong natural, alin ‘yong artificial,” Batongbacal said in the same briefing.

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