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Tol concludes hearing on maritime zones bills: Sen. Francis “Tol” Tolentino, during Monday’s third hearing of the Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones October 23, 2023, asks the relevance of passing a law on the establishment of maritime zones in light of the recent incident at the Ayungin Shoal. Tolentino tossed the question after a China Coast Guard ship and a Chinese militia vessel made “dangerous blocking maneuvers” and collided with two boats of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) used for rotation and resupply (Rore) missions to Filipino troops stationed on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal last Sunday. “What is the relevance of the pending measures with the incident that transpired yesterday? Will it help? Will it clarify, will it dilute the confusion? Will it foster more amicable situation insofar as the (Philippine) Coast Guard is concerned?” Tolentino asked. PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the passage of the law on maritime zones would help the PCG as a law enforcement agency and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to clearly strengthen the defined zones in the country’s maritime jurisdictions. Tarriela also said other claimant countries which are all signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea are obliged to respect the country’s maritime jurisdiction. Tolentino concluded the hearing and hoped to come out with a committee report after the submission of position papers of concerned government agencies. (Joseph B. Vidal/Senate PRIB)