Panelo on China’s rescue center at Kagitingan Reef: Maybe we should be thankful

“Maybe we should be thankful,” Panelo said in a press briefing. (File Photo: Office of the Presidential Spokesperson/Facebook)

Filipinos should express gratitude to China after it was reported that the latter opened a maritime rescue center at the Philippine-claimed Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reef in the West Philippine Sea.

This, according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Thursday, January 31.

“Maybe we should be thankful,” Panelo said in a press briefing.

“That could help seamen in distress in that area. It can help everybody,” he added.

Asked by reporters whether China’s structure would affect the Philippines’ territorial claim in the area, the Palace official answered, “Hindi naman (Not really). I don’t think so. It will not.”

Panelo, however, said he has yet to confirm whether China got the “permission” of the Philippine government to place a maritime rescue center in the Kagitingan Reef.

“Hindi pa natin alam ‘yon, wala pa naman tayong ano eh (We do not know that yet, we do not have information yet). We’re just basing on the news,” he said.

“They are establishing it but they didn’t say that they did ask the government permission,” he continued.

The Palace official said he will wait for Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin, Jr. to issue a statement regarding the matter, but as of writing, the DFA chief has not said anything yet.

The media also quizzed Panelo if Malacañang believes that Beijing will use the structure only as a “maritime rescue center.”

To this, he said, “We’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.”

But if the government sees any ‘inconsistency’ with China’s actions, the spokesman stressed that the Philippines will “protest on anything that intrudes to our sovereign.”

Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua said China has put up a maritime rescue center in the Kagitingan Reef on Tuesday, which “will offer better support to maritime rescue operations in the southern part of the South China Sea.”

[READ: Beijing opens maritime rescue center at Kagitingan Reef]

Supreme Court Senior Associate Antonio Carpio, who was part of the Philippine delegation that won the arbitration case against Beijing, has urged the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to protest on China’s recent activity or the country will be “waving” its sovereignty over the island.

“A note verbale saying that under Philippine law that’s ours and under the ruling that’s part of our EEZ (exclusive economic zone),” he said.

“We should be wary of that because that’s an exercise of sovereignty or sovereign rights. That’s an exercise of administration,” he added.

Before launching the maritime rescue center, it was reported that China installed facilities in Kagitingan Reef, Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, and Zamora Reef to protect and restore coral reefs in those areas.