MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has conducted a total of 54 patrol missions in the West Philippine Sea this month, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said on Tuesday.

The missions were conducted from November 1 to 25.

According to Padilla, these operations include three sealift missions, 13 maritime patrols (MARPAT) or sovereignty patrols (SOVPAT), one maritime surveillance patrol (MARSUVPAT), one search and rescue (SAR) operation, and one rotation and resupply (RORE) mission.

Naval and Air Force aircraft also executed four maritime air surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance operations, 30 maritime patrols, and one SAR operation.

“The AFP stands resolute in our mandate to uphold territorial integrity, maritime sovereignty, and regional stability while serving and protecting the interests of the Filipinos,” Padilla told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday.

‘CHINESE VESSELS IN WPS A CONTINUING THREAT’

During its “successful” patrol missions, the AFP monitored the presence of the China Coast Guard, Chinese maritime militia and People’s Liberation Army Navy.

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS, said the presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea remains a “continuing threat.”

“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,” Trinidad stressed. “They have a canned response that they give back to us.”

“We are tracking them. They are an existential threat, as mentioned by our honorable secretary,” he added.

Amid ongoing political conflicts in the country, Trinidad assured that the AFP will continue performing its mandate to ensure the integrity of our national territory.

“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. 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 said.

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‘PH STILL ‘HAS ACCESS’ TO ESCODA SHOAL’

Trinidad said the Philippines still “has access” to Escoda or Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

This, after the China Coast Guard harassed and blocked Filipino fishermen from entering the shoal last month.

Trinidad said the AFP maintains constant presence and monitoring in Escoda Shoal.

“It is a wrong assumption [that China is in control of Escoda Shoal] sapagkat that [was] an isolated incident. May access pa rin tayo dun. T’hey dont have 24/7 control. We still continue performing our mandate,” the official said.

He went on, “Kailanman hindi tayo umalis dun. Our monitoring of Sabina and the other features of the Philippines has been continuous. This has helped drive our deployment of forces and our maritime patrol operations.”

According to Trinidad, the Navy monitors an average of two to three CCG and four to five PLAN vessels in Escoda Shoal daily.

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