The Philippines disputed claims by Chinese state media last week that the uninhabited Sandy Cay reef is under China's control, a government spokesperson said Monday.

Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro, citing National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya, said Sandy Cay is under Philippine control.

"They (four teams) completely carried it (operations) out, and they are denying that it was seized by China, according to DG Jonathan Malaya," Castro said.

"And let us expect the unwavering dedication of President Marcos to fight for our rights in our territory, in our maritime rights, especially here in the West Philippine Sea," she added.

The Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine National Police - Maritime Group, conducted "lawful exercise of maritime domain awareness and jurisdiction" in the sandy reef, according to the National Task Force West Philippine Sea.

Four composite teams which joined the operations saw the illegal presence of a Chinese Coast Guard ship and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels near the four Cays.

"We will continue to protect all the rights of the country in accordance with international law, but with the assurance that this is for peace and stability," she said.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said the team saw CCG 5102, approximately a 1,000 yards east of Cay 2 and seven Chinese Maritime Militia vessels in between Cay 2 and Cay 3.

The NTF-WPS assured the public that the Sandy Cays were within the territorial sea of Pagasa Islands, and that the country did not lose any of these features in the WPS.

“The Philippines exercises not just sovereign rights, not just jurisdiction. We exercise sovereignty over these three cays,” Malaya said. DMS -Ysabela Velez-White