In a media interview on May 18, 2026, ๐๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ said that the presence of Chinese Maritime Research Vessels may possibly indicate that they are conducting activities related to ๐ฆ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ, which are considered critical infrastructure and are highly sensitive to Philippine national interests. He also believes that there is a high possibility that deep-seabed mapping operations are being carried out, which could have potential military applications.
The activities were reportedly observed not only in the ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ but also in other areas of the broader South China Sea and nearby regions, prompting continued monitoring by the agency over possible implications for maritime and national security.
