Executive Secretary of the Philippines; Chair, National Maritime Council
Appears in 1 story
Oversees whole-of-government maritime posture
A month ago, China's coast guard escalated beyond shoving resupply convoys—it blasted water cannons at small Philippine fishing boats near Sabina (Escoda) Shoal, damaged two vessels, and left three fishermen injured, while Chinese craft allegedly cut anchor lines and boxed out rescuers. Manila filed a diplomatic protest calling the actions "dangerous" and "inhumane." But the pressure hasn't stopped: in early January 2026, Chinese naval and coast guard vessels appeared during a search-and-rescue operation off Zambales—closer to the Philippine mainland than the usual reef flashpoints.
Updated Jan 11
No stories match your search
Try a different keyword
How would you like to describe your experience with the app today?
