Navy preparing for conversion of 2 islands into military reservations

The Philippine Navy (PN) is preparing for the possible occupation of the Grande and Chiquita Islands once these are declared as military reservations.
“The thrust right now of the PN is to prepare for eventual occupation or preparation of the land that will be awarded through a presidential proclamation declaring Grande Island (and) Chiquita Island as military reservations,” PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in an interview with reporters Tuesday.
He did not give more details on when talks on designating these islands as military reservations started.
These islands, he said, need to be declared as military reservations due to its proximity to Subic Bay whose “natural layout” provides safe harbor for Navy ships using the vital waterway.
A runway also exists in the Subic Bay area that can be used by Philippine aircraft.
“Hence the need to be able to have a military presence, a foothold in the Subic area,” Trinidad said.
Trinidad, meanwhile, said the move has nothing to do with the arrest of six foreign nationals and two Filipinos found conducting illegal activities in Grande Island last March 13.
“The foreign nationals that were arrested on Grande Island were there even before the talks of having (the island declared) as a naval reservation,” Trinidad said.
Grande Island, located in Subic Bay, is a strategic vantage point with a clear view of key sea lanes in the West Philippine Sea, including Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal).
The Department of National Defense (DND) earlier said the suspects’ illegal activities could include suspected espionage and kidnapping activities related to Philippine offshore gaming operators, where some foreign nationals are occupying Grande Island under the guise of private enterprises.
The conversion of the Grande and Chiquita Islands as military reservations would help secure the operations of the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone, including the Riviera Wharf and the Subic Bay International Airport.
The DND said this is in line with the ongoing development of a naval operating base in Subic which seeks to strengthen and maintain the Philippines’ strategic presence along the western seaboard. (PNA)