Navy spots ‘lighthouses’ in West PH Sea

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Navy confirmed it has monitored structures resembling lighthouses in 2 reefs in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

“We have reported some facilities that were [encountered] by our security forces that had been developed in this part… We can cite 2 areas – Kennan (Hughes) and Mabini (Johnson) reefs,” Navy chief Vice Admiral Jesus Millan told the House committee on appropriations on Tuesday, September 9.

“Our security forces were able to monitor facilities or structures with semblance to a lighthouse… similar to a lighthouse. These are being monitored together with the other islands that are being used by other claimant countries,” Millan added.

The Philippines previously filed a separate protest against China’s earlier reclamation activities in Mabini Reef in May 2014 and in Kennan in June 2014, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced.

The Philippine military also earlier expressed concerns that China is building a military base in Mabini reef.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told the committee that the biggest security concern for the Philippines is the external threat from China over the disputed West Philippine Sea.

Gazmin said they continue to conduct maritime patrols at the West Philippine Sea and report what they find out to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“When we observe violations, we document these and send these to the proper agency which is the Department of Foreign Affairs,” said Gazmin. 

The security officials were asking for additional P20 billion (about $450 million) budget for its modernization. – Rappler.com