The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) drove away an unauthorized foreign fishing vessel from the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan Island Group, on October 25, 2026.
In the morning, PCG personnel stationed on the island monitored the vessel about 2.7 nautical miles west of Pag-asa Island, near Sandy Cay and well within its 12-nautical-mile territorial sea. The PCG immediately issued radio challenges directing it to leave the area.
In the afternoon, the PCG sent High-Speed Response Boat HSRB-019 with a law enforcement team on board. The team issued verbal challenges through a loudhailer, telling the vessel that fishing within the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island is not permitted and directing it to vacate the area. HSRB-019 then escorted the vessel at a safe distance, continuing to issue warnings until it was driven outside the territorial sea. HSRB-019 returned to the island without any untoward incident.
During the operation, China Coast Guard Vessel 21581 and two of its rigid-hull inflatable boats, which have been staying near Pag-asa Island, tailed HSRB-019 and closely observed the PCG's law enforcement activities. The PCG said its team carried out the operation unhindered. The PCG also noted that the China Coast Guard has no lawful authority to exercise any policing role within the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island, and that its persistent presence in these waters is being closely monitored and documented.
This was the seventh PCG operation in less than four weeks to drive away foreign vessels from the Kalayaan Island Group. The earlier operations were against Chinese Maritime Militia Vessel 9622 and its sampans from Kota Island on September 28 and October 9; five foreign fishing vessels from Kota Island on October 11; Chinese fishing vessel YUETAIYU 63168 and its four small boats from Lawak Island on October 15; a foreign fishing vessel from Kota Island on October 18; and a foreign fishing vessel from Lawak Island on October 23.
Pag-asa Island is the seat of the Municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan, and is home to a Filipino civilian community. According to the release, the Philippines exercises full sovereignty over its territorial sea under international law, where no foreign vessel may fish without authorization, and such activities violate Philippine laws, including the Philippine Fisheries Code and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.
Under PCG Commandant Vice Admiral Rommel Supangan, the PCG will deploy additional High-Speed Response Boats to the Kalayaan Island Group to strengthen its capability to respond swiftly to intrusions, and will sustain its presence and vigilance in the area.
The operation followed the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who vowed in his State of the Nation Address on July 27, 2026 that the Philippines will not surrender or waver in defending its territory and maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea, in adherence to international law and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
Source: Philippine Information Agency