Government troops successfully erected the Philippine flag on Sandy Cay near Pagasa Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). This happened on April 27 through an inter-agency maritime operation by the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and PNP Maritime Group.
According to Col. Xerxes Trinidad, Chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office, the operation was carried out to further assert the sovereign rights of the Philippines over the Cays within 12 nautical miles of Pagasa Island in the West Philippine Sea.
Trinidad also clarified that the raising of the Philippine flag is strong proof that the China Coast Guard's claim that they now have control of Pagasa Cay 2 in WPS is false.
The AFP assured that they will remain committed to protecting the sovereignty of the country, safeguarding the maritime domain in the West Philippine Sea, and asserting the rights of the Philippines according to international laws.
