The Philippine military confirmed to the media that they will secure the Australian-Filipino consortium that will drill for oil in the resource-rich West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), the subject of a longstanding maritime row in the region.
Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, the Armed Forces Public Affairs Chief stated that the military does not expect China to harass the exploration teams but the Philippine Navy are always on stand by for any eventuality.
According to Philippine military officials the Navy has equipment to ward off any attempt to harass the exploration but declined to elaborate.
On Sunday, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers’ Association party-list Rep. Arnel Ty said an Australian-Filipino consortium would drill a new deepwater exploratory well in the West Philippine Sea.