Manila, Sept. 17 -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is verifying a report on the presence of two Chinese military hydrographic survey vessels in the West Philippine Sea, Malacanang said Thursday.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the PCG has deployed vessels to monitor the area while verification is ongoing.

"Ongoing ang verification ng report at mayroong mga barko ang PCG na nagbabantay doon sa area (Verification of the report is ongoing, and the PCG has vessels monitoring the area)," Castro said in a Palace briefing.

She said the Palace will release information that can be publicly shared once the PCG completes its verification.

The report concerns the alleged presence of two Chinese military hydrographic survey vessels in th...