The national security sector of the Cabinet met on Monday to discuss the China Coast Guard’s latest harassment against a Philippine resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang said.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin presided over the meeting, the Presidential Communications Office said.
‘’The national security sector held a meeting today. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin presided over the meeting that tackled the latest incident in the West Philippine Sea and ways moving forward,’’ PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil said.
Other details were not immediately available.
Over the weekend, Unaizah May 4 (UM4), which was carrying supplies for Filipino troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre, “sustained heavy damage,’’ according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, due to the ‘’continued blasting of water cannons” from two China Coast Guard vessels.
Still, Philippine forces said the rotation and resupply mission was successful.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has said President Marcos already has directives on this kind of aggression.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard welcomed the Indian Coast Guard ship Samura Pahererar, which officially visited the country and docked at the Eva Macapagal Terminal at Pier 15 in Manila on Monday.
Samudra Paheredar is the second Pollution Control Vessel of the Indian Coast Guard, uniquely designed for containing, recovering, and dispersing oil spills followed by transporting the recovered oil for further disposal.
The ship is based at Visakhapatnam on the Eastern Seaboard of India, under the Administrative and Operational Control of the Commander Coast Guard Region (East).
During the four-day day port visit, the ship’s crew will undertake a series of activities such as community support program.
A walkathon, beach clean-up, facility tour, subject matter expert exchanges, passing honors, and a sporting event to foster camaraderie and people-to-people engagement between PCG and ICG personnel are planned.