Rommel Lopez

Sa pagtaas ang presyo ng krudo huwag nating kalimutan na ang CHINA ang dahilan kung bakit tayo hindi makapag-explore sa Recto Bank para makakuha tayo sana ng langis at natural gas!

The Chinese Embassy's latest statement about me is not a rebuttal. It is a self-portrait. First, the Embassy is now a purveyor of fake news. Its own spokesperson and the FFCCCII said the Chinese teachers left because their families worried about Ray Powell's articles. My name was nowhere. On the "PR stunt," my statement thanked the PLA Navy, contrasted it with how the China Coast Guard treats our fishermen, and asked why a warship was in our EEZ. This is the same Embassy that circulated a garbled translation of my post to claim I "threatened" the Ambassador. Second, the statement proves China does not care about international law. No UNCLOS, no 2016 Award, no legal basis. Instead: Iraq in 2003 and a Pompeo quote. A grievance against Washington does not explain a water cannon fired at a BFAR vessel in July or a survey ship off Batanes without the consent Article 246 requires. Every disclosure I make comes from PCG cameras and crews, not foreign intelligence. Third, this is a mission that threatens rather than engages. The Ambassador said China could "easily win" by force; the DFA summoned him, the President called it a threat. The Embassy then warned of reciprocal action against our officials and answered a legitimate question with "the ignorant are fearless." The Filipinos who actually pay a price are the fishermen water-cannoned at Bajo de Masinloc. My job is to show what our cameras record. If the footage is propaganda, your quarrel is with the footage. The Embassy can attack me all it wants; the cameras will keep rolling.

PCG REPELS FOREIGN FISHING VESSEL FROM TERRITORIAL SEA OF PAG-ASA ISLAND The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) successfully drove away an unauthorized foreign fishing vessel from the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan Island Group, on 25 October 2026. In the morning of the same date, PCG personnel stationed on Pag-asa Island monitored the foreign fishing vessel lying approximately 2.7 nautical miles west of the island, in the vicinity of Sandy Cay, well within its 12-nautical-mile territorial sea. The PCG immediately issued radio challenges directing the vessel to leave the area. In the afternoon, the PCG deployed High-Speed Response Boat HSRB-019 with a law enforcement team on board. Upon reaching the vessel, the team issued verbal challenges through loudhailer, informing the vessel that fishing within the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island is not permitted and directing it to vacate the area. The PCG team did not stop at merely dislodging the vessel from its position. HSRB-019 escorted the vessel at a safe distance while continuing to issue warnings until it was driven away outside the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island. HSRB-019 then returned to the island without any untoward incident. During the operation, China Coast Guard Vessel 21581 and two (2) of its rigid-hull inflatable boats, which have been maintaining a presence in the vicinity of Pag-asa Island, tailed HSRB-019 and closely observed the conduct of the PCG's law enforcement activities. The PCG team carried out the operation unhindered. The PCG notes that the China Coast Guard has no lawful authority to exercise any policing role within the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island, and its persistent presence in these waters is being closely monitored and documented. This is the seventh operation conducted by the PCG in less than four weeks to drive away foreign vessels from the Kalayaan Island Group, following the repelling of Chinese Maritime Militia Vessel (CMMV) 9622 and its sampans from Kota Island on 28 September and 09 October 2026, five (5) foreign fishing vessels from Kota Island on 11 October 2026, Chinese fishing vessel YUETAIYU 63168 and its four small boats from Lawak Island on 15 October 2026, a foreign fishing vessel from Kota Island on 18 October 2026, and a foreign fishing vessel from Lawak Island on 23 October 2026. Pag-asa Island is the seat of the Municipality of Kalayaan, Province of Palawan, and home to a Filipino civilian community. Under international law, the Philippines exercises full sovereignty over its territorial sea, where no foreign vessel may fish without authorization. Such activities likewise constitute violations of Philippine laws, including the Philippine Fisheries Code and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act. Under the leadership of PCG Commandant Vice Admiral Rommel Supangan, the PCG will deploy additional High-Speed Response Boats to the Kalayaan Island Group to further strengthen its capability to respond swiftly to intrusions, and will sustain its presence and vigilance in the area. This operation was carried out in accordance with the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who, in his State of the Nation Address on 27 July 2026, vowed 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.