Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque falsely claimed that the 10 patrol vessels purchased from Japan intended to improve the country’s maritime security were acquired by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The requisition of the country’s “first two” missile-capable vessels Roque attributed to the Duterte administration is also misleading.
STATEMENT
In his July 24 Inquirer.net column, Roque dismissed as “impossible” the non-war options suggested by Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio in handling the territorial dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea.
Roque examined Carpio’s suggestions point by point. On the suggestion to deploy recently acquired vessels from Japan to patrol the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone, Roque said:
“Justice Carpio then suggested the deployment of recently acquired vessels from Japan to patrol our EEZ. To begin with, it is the Duterte administration that acquired these vessels. It is also this administration that recently ordered for our first two missile-capable vessels. These vessels will be used to patrol our EEZ and territorial seas. Certainly, President Duterte has already been doing what Justice Carpio has suggested. What is clear is that the Duterte administration recognizes that defense of our territory can only be achieved with a modern navy and coast guard, hence the priority accorded the modernization of our armed forces.”
Source: Inquirer.net Commentary, Harry Roque: Impossible ‘non-war’ options, July 24, 2019
FACT
While the commissioning of the ten 44-meter class Multi-Role Response Vessels (MRRVs) by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) happened during Duterte’s term, the purchase agreement with a Japanese shipbuilder was signed on June 4, 2015 during then President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s state visit to Tokyo.
The acquisition project was based on the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project (MSCIP) for the PCG under the Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan. As per contract schedule, then newly-elected Duterte officially received the first of these patrol vessels — BRP Tubbataha — on Aug. 18, 2016; the last two were turned over on Aug. 23, 2018.
The 10-vessel project was funded by the P7.3 billion loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, with a P1.4 billion contribution from the Philippine government, according to several news reports. This assistance was covered by the Maritime Safety and Security Cooperation as outlined in the Action Plan for Strengthening of the Strategic Partnership annexed in the PH-Japan Joint Declaration: “A Strengthened Strategic Partnership for Advancing the Shared Principles and Goals of Peace, Security, and Growth in the Region and Beyond.”
As for the two missile-capable patrol vessels that Roque said were “ordered” by Duterte, those were particularly requested by Aquino from Japanese Prime Minister Shizo Abe on top of the 10 patrol boats already granted.
Abe reportedly said Aquino requested the “provision of large patrol vessels to the Philippine Coast Guard and Japan would like to consider the specifics of the matter.”
The deal was finalized during Duterte’s official visit to Japan in October 2016 with the signing of the Exchange of Notes on Japanese ODA loan for the two 94m class vessels.
What Duterte requested and that Japan agreed to provide were 13 High-Speed Boats for the PCG — two of which were received just this February.
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Sources
RTVM, Contract Signing between DOTC and the Japan Marine United Corporation on MSCIP, June 4, 2015
The Japan Times, Philippines accepts first of 10 Japan-funded patrol vessels to beef up coast guard, Aug. 18, 2016
Reuters, Philippines gets first coastguard boat from Japan to boost security, Aug. 18, 2016
Rappler.com, Japanese shipbuilder begins construction of PCG vessels, Feb. 8, 2016
Manila Bulletin, 10th Japan-made Coast Guard vessel arrives in PH, Aug. 21, 2018
Japan International Cooperation Agency, Press Release, Oct. 28, 2016
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Action Plan for Strengthening of the Strategic Partnership (Annex of the Joint Declaration)
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan- Philippines Joint Statement, Oct. 26, 2016
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan’s Development Cooperation in the Philippines
The Wall Street Journal, Japan to Provide Patrol Vessels to Philippines, June 4, 2015
Inquirer.net , Japan’s Abe, Aquino discuss China, patrol vessels for PH coast guard, Nov. 20, 2015
ABS-CBN News, Japan, Philippines approve defense equipment transfer, Nov. 20, 2015
Manila Standard, Manila, Tokyo agree on P93-B Bulacan rail, Nov. 21, 2015
Manila Shimbun TV, Japan delivers last 2 MRRVs to Philippine Coast Guard, Aug. 31, 2018
Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, Japan Turns Over Two 12m Class High-Speed Boats to the Philippine Coast Guard, March 1, 2019
Coastguard.gov.ph, Coast Guard receives 2 units of 12-meter-high speed boats from Japan, Feb. 27, 2019
(Guided by the code of principles of the International
Fact-Checking Network at Poynter, VERA Files tracks the false claims,
flip-flops, misleading statements of public officials and figures, and
debunks them with factual evidence. Find out more about this initiative and our methodology.)
