Former Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard to immediately verify and monitor the reported presence of four Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy warships near Hilabaan, Eastern Samar.
Barbers cautioned against dismissing the deployment as a routine maritime event, emphasizing that the fleet reportedly includes two Luyang III-class guided-missile destroyers (hull numbers 159 and 133) and two Jiangkai II-class frigates (hull numbers 537 and 535).
“We cannot afford to be complacent. We do not need to provoke anyone, but neither should we be caught sleeping while foreign warships move around our maritime neighborhood,” Barbers said.
“Sovereignty begins with knowing what is happening in our own backyard—and having the capability and resolve to respond when necessary,” stressed the former lawmaker.
Highlighting the difference between these naval assets and typical maritime traffic, Barbers noted that combat-ready warships pose distinct security considerations compared to standard fishing or maritime-militia vessels.
“This is considerably different from reports of ordinary Chinese fishing vessels or maritime-militia ships in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). These are described as PLAN warships, equipped for functions including air defense, long-range strike and anti-submarine warfare.” Barbers said.
The naval group was previously tracked by Japan’s Joint Staff Office on August 22 passing southward through the Miyako Strait into the Philippine Sea. Security analyst Jose Antonio Goitia brought the latest sightings off Samar to light.
“This is precisely the kind of development that our defense and maritime authorities must watch very closely. We should know who these vessels are, where they are going, what they are doing and why they are operating in our vicinity,” Barbers said.
Barbers clarified that maintaining a clear picture of foreign military operations near Philippine territory is a standard matter of national interest rather than a provocation.