The Philippine Navy (PN) on Tuesday announced that its Western Naval Command, through its missile boat BRP Lolinato To-Ong (PG-902), successfully recovered a suspected Chinese rocket debris off the waters of Bataraza, Palawan last Oct. 19.
This follows after successful maritime operations in the West Philippine Sea.
‘After completing its patrol and drug recovery operations, BRP Lolinato To-Ong sighted a metallic debris suspected to be part of a Chinese rocket at coordinates 08°28.490’N, 117°39.805’E, approximately 12.17 nautical miles southeast of Rio Tuba, Bataraza, Palawan,’ the PN said.
In the said drug recovery operation, the PN ship recovered some PHP19.2 million worth of suspected marijuana kush off Sabina Shoal, West Philippine Sea last Oct. 18.
The crew of the BRP Lolinato To-Ong immediately conducted retrieval operations and secured the debris aboard the vessel.
‘The item was subsequently transported to Puerto Princesa City for proper documentation, assessment, and disposition in coordination with concerned authorities,’ the PN said.
It also said that the recovery of such debris underscores the importance of continued maritime surveillance in protecting Philippine waters and ensuring the safety of local communities potentially affected by foreign rocket remnants.
It can be recalled that China on Oct. 16 launched a Long March 8A rocket from its Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site as part of its efforts to deploy internet satellites into space.