MANILA — The Philippine Navy is preparing for the possible occupation of two islands in Subic Bay once these are declared as military reservations.

Grande Island and Chiquita Island are located at the southern entrance of Subic Bay, which was once a United States military base until the Philippine Senate rejected a lease extension in 1991.

The facility has since been transformed into a freeport zone.

“The thrust right now of the Philippine Navy is to prepare for the eventual occupation or preparation of the land that will be awarded through a presidential proclamation declaring part of SBMA [Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority] and Grande Island and Chiquita Island as military reservations,” Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday.

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According to Trinidad, Grande Island and Chiquita Island need to be declared as military reservations due to their proximity to Subic Bay — its “natural layout” providing safe harbor for Navy ships using the waterway. 

There is also an existing runway in Subic Bay, which can be used by Philippine aircraft.

“Hence, the need to be able to have a military presence, a foothold in the Subic area,” Trinidad said.

But the official clarified that the move to turn the two islands into military reservations has nothing to do with the arrest of six foreign nationals and two Filipinos found conducting illegal activities on Grande Island on March 19.

“The foreign nationals that were arrested on Grande Island were there even before the talks of having that as a naval reservation. Nauna sila doon bago lumabas yung news na gagawing naval reservation ang part of Subic Bay,” Trinidad noted.

Authorities nabbed five Chinese, a Cambodian and two Filipinos on the island last week due to suspected espionage and kidnapping activities related to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

In a statement released on March 20, the Department of National Defense (DND) said converting Grande Island and Chiquita Island would enhance security for the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone, including the Riviera Wharf and the Subic Bay International Airport.

It added that the planned conversion aligns with the "ongoing development of the naval operating base of the PN to strengthen and maintain our strategic presence along our western seaboard." 

Grande Island is a strategic vantage point with a clear view of key sea lanes in the West Philippine Sea, including Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.