PCG repels foreign fishing vessel from Kota Island

MANILA, October 19 ------ The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it has driven away an unauthorized foreign fishing vessel from the waters of Kota Island, which is part of the Kalayaan Group of Islands near Palawan.

The PCG said that on Sunday morning it spotted a foreign fishing vessel approximately 1.75 nautical miles north-northwest of the island, well within its 12-nautical-mile territorial sea of the Philippines. The PCG's high-speed response boat HSRB-019 immediately proceeded to the area to reinforce two PCG rubber boats that were already engaging the vessel. "HSRB-019 and the two rubber boats maintained close presence on the foreign fishing vessel and issued repeated radio challenges directing it to leave the territorial sea of Kota Island," said the PCG in a statement. "The vessel eventually withdrew and departed the area without any untoward incident, after which HSRB-019 and the rubber boats returned to Kota Island."

The PCG said it was the fourth operation they conducted in three weeks including those involving a Chinese Maritime Militia Vessel (CMMV) 9622 and its sampans on September 28 and October 9; and five foreign fishing vessels on October 11. The PCG likewise drove away a Chinese fishing vessel and four small boats from the waters of Lawak Island on October 15.

Kota Island is an integral part of the Municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan. "Under international law, the Philippines exercises full sovereignty over its territorial sea, where no foreign vessel may fish without authorization. Such activities also violate the Philippine Fisheries Code and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act," said the PCG.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com