Nolcom denies presence of Chinese boats in Cagayan

December 8, 2020

The  Northern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) denies the alleged presence of Chinese boats in Cagayan.

Major Marco Antonio Magisa, Nolcom spokesman, issued a statement following a Twitter post by certain Joey Ledesma about Chinese boats  sighted in Aparri, Cagayan.

Magisa called the Twitter post as fake news or propaganda material against the military.

"Based on maritime surveillance platforms and human intelligence, no Chinese boat engaged in black sand mining was monitored in the areas mentioned in the Tweet. Thus, making us believe that such is a fake news maliciously designed to serve as propaganda against Nolcom considering the series of decisive blows and headway that our troops have recorded against the NPA terrorists that have pushed them on the verge of irrecoverable defeat," he said.

Ledesma, in his Twitter account, quoted a radio report saying  people in Cagayan were alarmed over the large number of Chinese boats docking in the province.

"Reported on @dzbb this morning, townspeople in Cagayan and Aparri express alarm over the large number of Chinese boats docking there to pick up black sand, while @Teamafp focuses all their strength on arresting mother activists with their babies," the Twitter post of Ledesma said.

"The AFP’s Northern Luzon Command has not received any report regarding this matter from our vast intelligence network emplaced across all areas north of Metro Manila which are designed to gather information related to our internal security as well as territorial defense missions,'' said Magisa.

Magisa  added that ''any information, once validated, are being promptly acted upon by our field units."

"On the other hand, all confirmed reports of territorial incursions are being actively addressed through overt measures such as aerial challenges until concerned foreign vessels or aircraft leave Philippine waters or airspace," he added.

Magisa said "the  “mother” being referred to in the tweet is a confirmed NPA terrorist who was apprehended by virtue of a warrant duly issued by a judge of our country’s court of law." Robina Asido/DMS