At least three members of the House Young Guns condemned the recent actions of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Bajo de Masinloc, West Philippine Sea, calling them illegal and provocative.
Deputy Speakers Paolo Ortega and Jay Khonghun, along with Lanao del Norte Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, said the actions violate Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and international law.
According to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) statement dated June 9, 2026, confirmed through aerial monitoring and recent imagery by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the PRC placed a 6×6-meter floating platform within the shoal. The structure reportedly includes an antenna and personnel onboard.
Further PCG documentation indicates additional unlawful installations, including three newly installed floating buoys (on top of two deployed last October), an unidentified floating spherical object, and at least two communication antennas.
The lawmakers said these structures were placed within Philippine maritime zones in clear violation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award, which affirmed Bajo de Masinloc as part of the Philippines.
The House Young Guns voiced support for the diplomatic protest already filed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“We are one with the Philippine government in demanding the immediate removal of the floating platform, buoys, antennas, and all other illegal structures,” they said in a joint statement.
They warned that China’s actions could turn Bajo de Masinloc into another artificial island, similar to Mischief Reef, and described the installations as a direct assault on Philippine sovereignty and a dangerous escalation that threatens regional peace.
“We stand united with the Filipino people and the entire government in defending every inch of our territory and exclusive economic zone. Diplomacy must be backed by resolve. They must cease these illegal activities now,” the statement added.
The lawmakers also urged the public to rely on official government sources for verified information and reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the rules-based international order. “We will continue to push for stronger legislative and oversight measures to protect our maritime domain,” they said.