Navy ship recovers drugs in West PH Sea, then China rocket debris off Palawan coast

MANILA, Philippines, October 22 ------ The BRP Lolinato To-Ong’s mission to the West Philippine Sea, primarily to recover a floating black bag near Sabina Shoal, resulted in a double haul — of suspected high-grade marijuana and of what is believed to be Chinese rocket debris off the coast of Palawan.

In separate press releases, the Western Naval Command (WesNavComm), which oversees the operations of the Navy’s fleet patrolling most of the West Philippine Sea, said that the Lolinato To-Ong was dipatched to Sabina Shoal, a feature some 75 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan, to retrieve a floating black bag that was believed to contain “high-grade marijuana.”

The vessel had already been conducting patrols in the area when the bag was located on October 17. By October 18, the Lolinato To-Ong and her crew retrieved the bag. On their way back to Palawan, the ship and her crew then “sighted a metallic debris” believed to have come from a Chinese rocket some 12.17 nautical miles southeast of Rio Tuba, Bataraza, Palawan. The debris was retrieved and secured aboard the ship. Photos from WesNavComm show a large metal object that bore what looked like the Chinese national flag.

The Philippine Space Agency on October 16 earlier confirmed the launch of the Long March 8A rocket from China, and said debris from the launch were expected over 118 nautical miles from El Nido, Palawan; 137 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa, Palawan; 45 nautical miles from Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, Palawan; and 35 nautical miles from Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan.

The mission was launched from the Hainan International Commercial Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan, the morning of October 16. Upon the Lolinato To-Ong’s return to Palawan on October 20, they turned the package of suspected marijuana over to the personnel of the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Palawan Police Provincial Office and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Palawan.

The debris, meanwhile, was “transported to Puerto Princesa City for proper documentation, assessment, and disposition in coordination with concerned authorities.” “The recovery of such debris underscores the importance of continued maritime surveillance in protecting Philippine waters and ensuring the safety of local communities potentially affected by foreign rocket remnants,” said WesNavComm. “Western Naval Command continues to support inter-agency efforts in combating illegal drug trafficking and ensuring that the West Philippine Sea remains safe, secure, and free from unlawful activities,” it added.

Source: rappler.com