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ICC must ask Ph courts to enforce warrant – Remulla
By Nidz Godino
“When it comes to them ,ICC and Interpol going to the country, if they want to execute warrant ICC has come up with… they have to go through Philippine court system…they have to take action to enforce warrant and judgment in our court system,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said if International Criminal Court (ICC) issues arrest warrant and International Criminal Police Organization is tasked with enforcing it in Philippines, Interpol must consult with Philippine courts before taking any action.
During budget hearing of Senate committee on finance on Department of Justice (DOJ) for 2025, chairperson Sen. Grace Poe asked Remulla whether ICC can investigate under radar and authorities may monitor it.
He stressed Supreme Court (SC) is supposed to determine whether Philippines is still under ICC’s jurisdiction even after country withdrew in 2019.
DOJ will also not interfere with international bodies’ operations if they want to chase accused person but reiterated they need to consult Philippine court first before doing so, according to Remulla.
He noted Philippine authorities cannot prevent ICC from interviewing witnesses in the Philippines, can be done through video call.
“It is so easy for them to go on Zoom video call with all of these witnesses in this country…we cannot stop them from doing that because freedom of communication is paramount,” Remulla said.
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, one of the respondents of ICC’s investigation on former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, is happy to know international court’s warrant will still be sent to local courts.
“It’s very good great development if that’s what he says… I am happy that they are defending our turf and our sovereignty and jurisdiction,” he said.
Remulla also said if United Nations Human Rights Commission could provide evidence of extrajudicial killings, DOJ itself could investigate it.
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Hse panel extends franchise for Meralco, Bicol electric coops
By Nidz Godino
“For the past few months, we have held meetings to discuss franchise application of Meralco…since then, we have received various letters of support,” panel chairman Rep. Gus Tambunting said after his committee consolidated House Bills 9793, 9813, 10317 and its amended version proposals to extend franchise of Manny Pangilinan-run Manila Electric Company (Meralco) by another 25 years has been approved and endorsed by committee on legislative franchises of House of Representatives.
Its existing franchise, which will expire in 2028, will eventually be valid for another 25 years, or until 2053.
Under its existing franchise, Meralco is authorized to construct, operate and keep distribution system for conveyance of electric power to consumers in cities, municipalities and barangays of Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon and Pampanga.
Three measures were authored by Reps. Joey Salceda (House ways and means committee chairman), Rufus Rodriguez (House committee on constitutional amendments chairman) and Lord Allan Jay Velasco (House committee on energy chairman).
“Franchise is possibly single most important private bill for industrial policy in this country… Meralco services an area responsible for about half country’s entire GDP and about 26 percent of population, Meralco is exemplar of how service reliability can create economic growth and development… Meralco has also fully complied with Energy Regulatory Commission’s rules and issuances…some P48.3 billion in consumer refunds have also been delivered in full,” Salceda said.
“Practically everything has been discussed, has been ventilated and have been answered in previous marathon hearings,” said Rodriguez.
Velasco, who served as Speaker during former president Duterte’s term, made same endorsement. “Everything has been fully discussed…no other issue has been put forward. Meralco has long been serving our country well and they deserve to be granted new franchise.”
Meralco bill will now be sent to House plenary for final approval of all House members before it can be sent to Senate for concurrence.
At the same time, Tambunting committee also approved House Bill 9696 granting franchise to operate distribution systems to Sorsogon I Electric Cooperative Inc. (Soreco I) and House Bills 9775 and 9838, granting same to Sorsogon Electric Cooperative II (Soreco II).
HB 9696, authored by Sorsogon District 2 Rep. Wowo Fortes, would grant Soreco I franchise to operate in areas of Bulan, Bulusan, Casiguran, Irosin, Juban, Magallanes, Matnog and Sta. Magdalena in Sorsogon.
HBs 9775 and 9838, authored by Reps. Marie Bernadette Escudero (District 1) and Fortes respectively, grants Soreco II franchise to operate in the areas of Donsol, Pilar, Castilla, Gubat, Prieto Diaz and Barcelona in Sorsogon.
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5 active mpox cases confirmed – DOH
By Nidz Godino
“Nine cases have long recovered and five are active cases waiting for symptoms to resolve,” Department of Health (DOH) said active mpox cases in the Philippines are now at five after DOH two more cases of infectious disease added.
Confirmed mpox cases since July 2022 are now 14.
Two new cases are in Metro Manila and Calabarzon. Both have milder form of mpox virus, MPXV clade II.
Patient in Metro Manila is female, 26, whose rashes and fever started on Aug. 20. She developed sore throat and swollen neck lymph nodes.
“She continues to recover at home, under close and continuing monitoring by local health authorities,” DOH noted.
Female patient had no travel history three weeks before symptoms started and two of her close contacts do not exhibit symptoms.
In Calabarzon, 12-year-old male patient’s symptoms began on Aug. 10. He had fever and later developed rashes, cough and swollen lymph nodes in groin.
Male patient also has no travel history. Other circumstances are still being verified.
More mpox cases are being detected due to heightened surveillance, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.
“Situation strengthens our health system we can find, test and treat mpox…we will be ready should clade Ib get here,” Herbosa said, referring to new strain of mpox virus.
Four suspected mpox cases being monitored in hospital in Eastern Visayas have not been confirmed yet, DOH-Region 8 said.
Specimens collected from patients in isolation were sent to Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila.
One of the patients is male, 24, who suffered two-week fever, physical weakness and vesicular rashes. He is confined in hospital in Catarman, Northern Samar.
Male patient had no travel history.
Two thousand doses of Jynneos vaccine will be availed of by DOH to prevent spread of mpox in the Philippines.
Jynneos vaccine is slightly different from smallpox vaccine, DOH noted.
“Smallpox vaccine is made from vaccinia virus. This one for mpox Jynneos is modified vaccinia Ankara. Vaccinia and MVA belong to same Orthopoxvirus family where mpox also is,” Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said.
DOH has signified to World Health Organization its intent to get access to smallpox vaccines.
“As to the current vaccine, Africa needs it badly compared to us… since there are not that many available vaccines right now, it will be used there to contain mpox outbreak, but I already made request… I have about 2,000 doses coming from our share in ASEAN-World Health Organization…it will undergo process for it to be made available in the country,” Herbosa said.
DOH reported detection of two more mpox cases in Metro Manila, bringing total case count to 12 since July 2022.
Of 12 mpox cases, nine have recovered while remaining three are “active cases waiting for symptoms to resolve.”
Filipinos are advised to avoid close,intimate, skin-to-skin contact and to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Mpox is viral disease that can be transmitted to humans through close, intimate contact with someone who is infectious or through contaminated materials.
Common mpox symptoms are skin rashes or mucosal lesions, which can last up to four weeks.
Rashes are accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
Meanwhile, with onset of rainy season and threat of mpox, health advocates urged DOH to expedite procurement of influenza vaccines for senior citizens.
“Our seniors cannot afford to be left exposed and vulnerable,” said Philippine Foundation for Vaccination executive director Lulu Bravo.
“Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 mandates protection of our elderly and it’s imperative that they receive flu vaccines they are entitled to,” said Bayan Bakuna lead convenor Roderick Alapar.
He noted 67.1 percent of influenza-associated mortality in the country occurs annually in adults aged 60 and above.
“We’ll work to eliminate anyone, as long as you’re on drug watchlist, your honor,” Col. Jovie Espenido replied to Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon’s questioning.confirmed reward and quota system under former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, emboldened some police officers to abuse system.
Testifying before hearing of House of Representatives’ quad committee on drug-related killings during Duterte administration, police officer said many innocent civilians died due to abuses committed by police.
“But then, some police officers abused this problem in the war against illegal drugs,” he stressed.
Espenido explained “pushers and users” were ones eliminated in drug war and not drug sources themselves.
“I am very, very sorry to say that some police officers took advantage and opportunity to kill drug pushers to gain rewards and higher positions,” he said.
Bongalon asked Espenido if he was aware that during anti-drug crackdown, there were strong protests against human rights violations committed by police.
Espenido replied affirmative, underscoring he believed human rights were indeed violated during drug campaign.
He added instructions for police officers were clear as jargon used in police language.
“There is one general word that when you hear it, we all know the meaning of it…when we say ‘to neutralize illegal drugs,’ killing of pushers is included… very obvious for us,” Espenido maintained.
Responding to queries of Manila Third District Rep. Joel Chua, Espenido claimed when he became police chief in Albuera, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa called him up and instructed him to dismantle drug operations in his area.
“Dela Rosa’s instruction to me was to help him and president Duterte with this war against illegal drugs. Dela Rosa told me, ‘Do your best; I will assign you as chief of police in Albuera so drug problem in Albuera will be eliminated.’ That’s what I remember,” Espenido recalled.
Dela Rosa, in chance interview at Senate, said he has yet to read Espenido’s statements.
He noted that there seems to be confusion with how term “neutralize” was used in drug war.
“What’s so bad about neutralizing drugs…we have to neutralize drug problem, don’t we…did I say kill that person… I didn’t say anything to kill that person,” Dela Rosa said.
He also clarified “neutralizing” means to clean up drug problem in an area and reiterated his point that he did not order to kill drug pushers and users.
He is also seeking Senate investigation into alleged involvement of government officials and workers in illegal drugs.
He noted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s pronouncement in his State of the Nation Address last July of arrest of 440 government officials, 42 uniformed personnel and 77 elected officials who were involved in illegal drugs, prompting him to file Senate Resolution 1163.
Philippine National Police (PNP) has yet to make statement about Espenido’s claim.
Espenido was police chief of Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental whose mayor, Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., and several members of the family and security were killed in raid by team from Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 10 in July 2017.
Prior to this, Espenido was police chief of Albuera, Leyte when town mayor, Rolando Espinosa, was gunned down in raid in his jail cell.
From Ozamiz, the police official was directed to Iloilo City, described by former president Duterte as most “shabulized” and whose mayor Jed Mabilog has not returned from abroad after he was placed on drug watchlist.
After Iloilo, Espenido was assigned to track down drug cartels in Negros Island.
Upon grilling by lawmakers, Espenido said he was able to meet Duterte four or five times at Malacañang, two of these after operations in Albuera and Ozamiz where, with Dela Rosa present, he was feted for job well done.
Espenido is now on floating status three months prior to his scheduled retirement.
Incarcerated former policeman corroborated earlier testimonies of two inmates on execution of three Chinese drug lords inside Davao penal colony in August 2016.
Former policeman Jimmy Fortaleza supported testimonies of Leopoldo Tan Jr. and Fernando Magdadaro regarding their claim of murder of three Chinese drug lords in same quad committee hearing.
In his testimony, Fortaleza recalled that in July 2016, he was visited by Lt. Col. Royina Garma, Chief Insp. Roland Vilela and Col. Hector Grijaldo, who were his classmates at PNP Academy.
Fortaleza claimed that Garma asked where Chinese drug lords were detained and he informed her that three were in “foreigner’s quarters.”
Garma told Fortaleza that she had operation among Chinese drug lords before leaving.
In August 2016, Fortaleza noted that Garma phoned him as she wanted to talk with Supt. Gerardo Padilla. Fortaleza then brought phone to Padilla so he and Garma could talk.
This was followed by commotion at foreigners’ quarters due to “searching” that resulted in three Chinese drug lords being transferred to isolation cell where three were killed by Magdadaro and Tan.
Fortaleza’s testimony made lawmakers grill Padilla on suspicion that he was involved in the killing even as he denied he knew whereabouts of Chinese nationals.
Quad committee co-chair Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said Padilla’s answers “compel panel to believe and conclude that he was lying.”
“It’s just two things, Supt. Padilla, you are either incompetent… or you have something to do with crime that happened right in your house,” Barbers said.
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Writ of Amparo immaterial vs PNP’s entry to KOJC cpd — DOJ
By Nidz Godino
“Writ of amparo could not hold against…that was filed against police, could not prevail over lawful order of court that directs them to arrest person, and it’s same court level that issued it that’s why we are not really about to raise our hands and surrender to court in that manner, so we are continuing arrest efforts,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in Senate hearing deliberating on Department of Justice (DOJ) budget for 2025.
Actions committed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) during service of arrest warrant in the compound owned by fugitive doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy are lawful.
DOJ said PNP acted due to warrant of arrest issued by courts against fugitive preacher which is within duty of police that eliminates ground in invoking writ of amparo.
DOJ issued this statement on Wednesday, day after Davao court issued temporary protection order on Quiboloy’s “church” Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) and Jose Maria College Foundation Inc., stemmed from writ of amparo asked by them on July 1.
Writ of amparo is protection available to individuals “whose right to life, liberty and property” are threatened resulting from unlawful act or omission by public officials. It can be filed before any lower court or directly before Supreme Court.
Protection order issued by Davao court ordered Police Regional Office 11 to remove all “barricades, barriers and blockades” around Quiboloy-owned compound that hinder religious, academic and proprietary rights” of preacher’s supporters.
Since Saturday, PNP has been around KOJC compound to implement arrest warrant against doomsday fugitive preacher. Police entered compound with 2,000 personnel KOJC supporters and Quiboloy allies called “excessive use of force.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., however, denied the “overkill” claim of Quiboloy’s supporters, saying number of policemen deployed was necessary for 30-hectare compound.
Despite protection order issued by court, service of warrant of arrest against fugitive preacher will still push through.
Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Ting also said protection order does not deter effectiveness of warrant of arrest.
Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano also said cease-and-desist order against PNP is related to entrance and exit of Quiboloy’s “followers” into compound.
“I believe we should take directive literally, we stick to wording and I think if there needs further clarification on what needs to cease-and-desist, then court should be able to speak again,” Clavano said.
Quiboloy is currently facing abuse and human trafficking charges in local courts. He has been at large since April 2024.
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PDL ‘lucky’ if they get P45 worth of food daily — DOJ
By J.Lo
“Ang estimate ng aking kasama sa loob ng DOJ, sa P70, maswerte na kung P45 ang napupupnta talaga napupunta sa bawat mesa ng bawat nakulong,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are only getting estimated P45 worth of food per day.
During Department of Justice (DOJ) budget hearing in Senate, Sen. Nancy Binay asked Remulla how much agency is spending to feed prisoners. Remulla responded DOJ is pending P70 a day per prisoner.
Binay quipped that this was above food poverty threshold of National Economic and Development Authority, said people who spent above P64 a day for three meals are not “food poor”.
However, Remulla said that this was because there was no kickback to that figure.
Bureau of Corrections General Director Gregorio Catapang Jr. said bidders go as low as possible. Latest winning bidder spends P59 a day for food.
Asked for food included in P59 a day, Catapang said that it includes eggs and rice.
“Ang mga PDL, ‘pag binigyan ng pagkain, linuluto pa nila ulit para magkaroon ng lasa o sustanya pagkain nila,” Catapang said.
Total budget for PDLs’ food this year is P1.5 billion, Catapang said.
Remulla called it culture that has been established even before he took on role. Suppliers believe large budget equals large earnings.
Remulla also claimed problem was worse in Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), attached agency of the Department of Interior and Local Government. However, he said corruption in BJMP likely takes even larger chunk of P70 a day.
According to Remulla, problem is in bidding process, creates large space for corruption.
“Ang problema namin, kung nagpa bid ka, sari-sari pong paraan yan na mga supplier system, na nagkakaroon talaga ng corruption,” DOJ chief said.
Sen. Grace Poe, chairs Committee on Finance, said Senate’s job to oversee budget and legislation. Solution to problem would not be adding to budget, but seeing how issue could be stopped.
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FMJ has ‘very good’ idea on who aided Guo
By Nidz Godino
“Very, very good idea… I have very good idea,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said when asked whose heads would roll during chance interview at Malacañang.
President Marcos has “very good” idea on who helped dismissed Bamban, mayor Alice Guo leave Philippines, and vowed to hold them accountable.
FMJ said Department of Justice is “almost” finished with its “very thorough” investigation of Guo’s departure last month.
However, he refused to disclose how many people were involved in Guo’s escape.
“Is there only one person involved or are there many, or is it syndicate…that’s what we are doing… no sacred cows, we will identify all of those who have, all of those who are involved in this, and we will act very quickly,” he said.
The President also confirmed that there will be some personnel from Bureau of Immigration (BI) who will be sacked.
Guo is facing complaints over her alleged involvement in illegal offshore gaming operations in the country.
She reportedly left Philippines on July 18 using her Philippine passport. She flew to Malaysia and Singapore before taking refuge in Indonesia.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Guo has been in Jakarta, Indonesia since Aug. 20.
Tansingco said latest information he received was “there is confirmation that she is in Jakarta, Indonesia. She has not left and Indonesian Immigration is closely monitoring her if she will pass through regular ports of entry.”
He added that Guo “flew last Aug. 20 from Batam, Indonesia” and they are already in coordination with their Indonesian counterparts to intercept her if she attempts to leave Jakarta so she can be turned over to Philippine government.
Tansingco claimed Chinese national Wu Duaren is one of those assisting her and her companions in their transfer from one country to another.
Wu is reportedly also person of interest since he has been included in immigration lookout bulletin order in connection with investigation of Philippine offshore gaming operators in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga.
Immigration chief explained Guo and her companions most probably left country through illegal means as their names did not appear on regular exit points on their July records.
However, BI has not yet identified how and which route Guo took in leaving the country.
“Unfortunately, we have more than 7,000 islands and they say there is ‘backdoor.’ Someone could just rent pump boat, go island-hopping and leave country via Sabah, (Malaysia)” Tansingco said.
He also said they are still trying to reconcile route taken, based on information deduced from Shiela’s passport.
If they had taken backdoor, nearest would have been Sabah but “what we cannot reconcile is that on July 18 she already arrived in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia, and on July 19 she has stamp of Sabah in her passport and on July 21 she left for Singapore.”
Tansingco has not yet confirmed if any personnel in his bureau is involved in dismissed mayor’s escape as he “trusts that our officers would not do something that they should not do.”
National Bureau of Investigation is also monitoring whereabouts of Guo.
NBI director Jaime Santiago said they are closely monitoring her but the agency cannot yet disclose specific details.
When asked about expected timeline for Guo’s return, NBI chief said “as soon as our authorities locate her.”
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said there will be no deadline extension for Guo to file her counter-affidavit on misrepresentation charges against her.
Garcia noted poll body already granted motu proprio Guo’s request to extend filing of her counter-affidavit until Sept. 1.
There will be no further extension of deadline as Garcia said one-time “automatic extension” of filing of counter-affidavit for criminal cases is already enough.
Poll body chief added their office is now awaiting whether Guo will personally appear before Comelec or if her legal counsels would submit notarized sworn counter-affidavit, which she needs to sign.
For fairness and in accordance with due process, Garcia said Commission would only accept signed documents.
Guo’s lawyers previously requested for additional 10 days to submit her counter-affidavit.
Comelec legal department will submit case for resolution whether Guo submits her answer to the complaint or not.
Happy third birthday with father God Cynthia Lopez
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US open to escort Ph resupply missions in West Philippine Sea
By J.Lo
“I mean certainly, within context of consultations,” US Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Samuel Paparo said, without giving details of ships likely to be employed for the task sending US ships to escort Philippine vessels on supply missions in West Philippine Sea is “entirely reasonable option.
Paparo made remarks on sidelines of defense forum in Manila, in response to media query whether Washington would consider providing escorts to Philippine ships taking supplies to BRP Sierra Madre or to land features in West Philippine Sea occupied by Filipinos.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., however, said Philippines prefers to run those missions on its own, making every effort to ensure their success despite China’s “dangerous” and “coercive” actions.
“We are going to try all options, all avenues that are available to us, while we can do it by ourselves, we will do it,” Brawner told reporters.
But Philippines would seek alternatives if it found itself constrained from doing so, he stressed.
“It’s not just perhaps operating with United States, but also with other like-minded nations,” he pointed out.
After forum, Paparo paid courtesy call on President Marcos at Malacañang.
“I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of you… we have many subjects to discuss for United States and for Philippines,” the President told US military official.
“I’m glad that you are able to find time to tour with us in the Philippines… I understand that you were going to visit some sites and one of EDCA sites so you will see true situation on the ground,” he added, referring to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
Malacañang has yet to release additional details about meeting, which was also attended by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Brawner and US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson.
Paparo’s remarks came on heels of maritime and air confrontations between Philippines and China in West Philippine Sea in the past week.
At the forum organized by US Indo-Pacific Command, Teodoro said country’s defense treaty with US must be interpreted more broadly to tackle “dynamic and cunning adversary.”
While US has reassured its oldest Asian ally that their defense partnership is “ironclad,” Teodoro called for the pact to be made “more dynamic” to avoid falling into “China’s trap.”
“Mutual defense treaty should be interpreted dynamically,” he told forum organized by US Indo-Pacific Command.
He also urged regional nations to call out China,he described as “biggest disruptor of peace,” for its activities in busy waterway.
“I believe they’re not undeterrable because it’s just question of getting worldwide consensus,” Teodoro said.
He said it is also important for Philippines to “collaboratively and on our own” build up its military as deterrence “in order to give them pause that we are serious in protecting our sovereignty and we will fight for it.”
“What people don’t realize is that there is active effort to reshape international order publicly articulated by China to create new world order and what is this new world order, this new world order will mean it will be China-led,” Teodoro pointed out.
He said such new world order will have no credibility. “Even their historical basis is questionable,” Teodoro said, referring to China.
“On one hand, world should see duplicity here…they want to be bridges of peace in Middle-East, in Africa, elsewhere where there is conflict…yet what are they doing in their backyard, that’s what the world should see, we should not allow China to define what ASEAN centrality means…we should get together in ASEAN and protect each other’s sovereign rights and sovereignty while settling our internal disputes between and amongst ourselves, yet what is China trying to do…trying to break us apart and that fortunately will not happen because I believe firmly that our leaders realize that in this region, China, although without saying it and I’ll say it for you, is biggest disruptor of international peace in ASEAN region,” he stressed.
.Meanwhile, Department of National Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said Teodoro discussed with Spain’s new defense attaché Col. Santiago Martin Sanz possibility of having Spain join Maritime Cooperative Activities or joint sail with Philippine Navy in West Philippine Sea.
“With view of developing maritime security cooperation,Teodoro expressed openness to possible port visits by Spanish Navy vessels in the future and raised prospect of conducting MCA,” Andolong said.
This developed as Philippine Navy reported notable increase in number of Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea in the past seven days.
Data showed there were 163 Chinese naval, coast guard and maritime militia vessels spotted in various parts of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone from Aug. 20 to 26, highest count in the past three months.
Number of Chinese vessels monitored during period Aug. 13 to 19 was 129. Figure was even lower at 92 between Aug. 6 and 12.
Reports also showed huge concentration of vessels in Escoda Shoal where BRP Teresa Magbanua of Philippine Coast Guard has been stationed since April to keep watch and prevent any reclamation activities by the Chinese.
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