PCG probes object aboard vessel in Bajo de Masinloc

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The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is investigating the capabilities and purpose of unidentified equipment aboard a vessel spotted inside the lagoon of Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea on October 3.

The blue-and-white vessel was seen towing a smaller speedboat and carrying an orange, boat-shaped object without windows on its rear deck. The object was fitted with sensors and antennas.

“I am not really sure whether this is a Chinese research vessel, because based on the bow number and IMO number, it doesn't fall into those Chinese research vessels na na-i-launch ng China,” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said in Chino Gaston's report on "24 Oras" on Thursday.

(I am not really sure whether this is a Chinese research vessel because, based on its bow number and IMO number, it does not match the Chinese research vessels that China has launched.)

“We're trying to track the capability of this watercraft. We would like to believe that this is just one of those support vessels na ginagamit ng Chinese government,” he added.

(We’re trying to track the capabilities of this watercraft. We would like to believe that it is just one of the support vessels used by the Chinese government.)

The PCG is particularly looking into whether the orange object is a submersible or equipment intended for underwater operations.

Tarriela said that China had previously used remotely operated vehicles to conduct research on the seabed and underwater.

“The Chinese are more concerned [with] the seabed and there are different ways for them to do MSR [marine scientific research]. Siguro mayroon pa rin silang mga underwater drone na dineploy,” he said.

(The Chinese are more concerned with the seabed, and there are different ways for them to conduct marine scientific research. Perhaps they have also deployed underwater drones.)

The PCG aircraft encountered several radio challenges during the maritime domain awareness flight. Radio exchanges between Chinese forces and an aircraft from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), which was also patrolling near Bajo de Masinloc, were also heard.

Aside from the vessel inside the lagoon, the PCG spotted five Chinese maritime militia vessels, three China Coast Guard ships, and one People's Liberation Army Navy warship in the area. — VBL, GMA News