Nolcom gives out 1743 maps of Panatag

Replicas of a map drawn in 1743 showing Panacot Shoal or Panatag Shoal off the coast of Zambales to be part of the Philippines are being disseminated to military units of the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command.

Businessman Mil Velarde, owner of the map, donated and handed copies of it to Nolcom commander Lt. Gen. Romeo Tanalgo in a symbolic ceremony at Camp Aquino in Tarlac City yesterday.

Originally called “Carta Hydrographica y Chorographica de las Yslas Filipinas,” Jesuit priest Pedro Murillo drew the map, which was published in Manila in 1734.

Panatag Shoal or Scarborough Shoal is also known as Bajo de Masinloc.

The Philippine government has submitted the Murillo map to The Haguebased Permanent Court of Arbitration in its case against China, as one of the proofs of its South China Sea claim.

“Why is the replica of the Murillo Map being donated to Nolcom? It is because Nolcom is the protector, watcher, caretaker, defender of Bajo de Masinloc,” Velarde said.

A framed replica of the Murillo Map will be a permanent fixture at Nolcom headquarters.

Velarde acquired the Murillo Map for P12 million during an auction in London in 2014.

His acquisition of the map further bolstered the Philippine position against China’s uncharted nine-dash line claim of almost the entire South China Sea before the arbitration court.

China has established de facto control over the shoal, a traditional Filipino fishing ground.

It seized the shoal after the Philippine Coast Guard pulled out its vessels from the area as agreed upon with China to deescalate tension when the Philippine Navy held eight Chinese fishing vessels for poaching and illegal fishing inside the shoal on April 8, 2012.