Manila, March 26 -- The Philippine Navy (PN) is preparing for the possible occupation of the Grande and Chiquita Islands once these are declared as military reservations.

"The thrust right now of the PN is to prepare for eventual occupation or preparation of the land that will be awarded through a presidential proclamation declaring Grande Island (and) Chiquita Island as military reservations," PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in an interview with reporters Tuesday.

He did not give more details on when talks on designating these islands as military reservations started.

These islands, he said, need to be declared as military reservations due to its proximity to Subic Bay whose "natural...