ISANG barko ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ang intentional na binangga ng isang China Coast Guard ship habang ginagamitan ng water canon sa West Philippine Sea, ayon sa Philippine Coast Guard kahapon.
Ayon kay Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea, isang China Coast Guard vessel ang “deliberately rammed” ang stern portion ng BRP Datu Pagbuaya na naging sanhi ng minor structural damage at mapalad na walang nasaktan sa mga crew nito.
Nabatid na ang BRP Datu Pagbuaya at dalawa pang Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels ang naka-atraka sa territorial waters ng Pag-asa Island, may 500 kilometers west ng Palawan, para protektahan ang Filipino fishermen, nang magsagawa ng “dangerous and provocative maneuvers” ang China Coast Guard (CCG) at Chinese Maritime Militia vessels, ani Tarriela.
“Around 8:15 a.m., the Chinese maritime vessels ‘approached dangerously close’ and activated their water cannons as a clear threat against the BFAR vessels,” ayon kay Tarriela sa kanyang X account.
Ayon kay Tarriela, gaya ng dating narrative ng China, isinisi na naman nila sa Pilipinas ang insidente sa West Philippine Sea.
Sa inilabas na pahayag ng China: “Without permission from the Chinese government, Philippine government vessels 3002 and 3003 on Sunday illegally intruded into adjacent waters of Tiexian Jiao of China’s Nansha Qundao. At 9:19 am, despite repeated stern warnings from the Chinese side, Philippine vessel 3003 dangerously approached the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 21559 that was on a normal law enforcement mission and caused a collision. ”
“The responsibility lies entirely with the Philippine side. The CCG took necessary control measures against the Philippine vessels in accordance with law and expelled them, with on-site operations professional, up to standard, legitimate and lawful,” ayon sa ibinahaging pahayag ng Liu Dejun,” CCG spokesperson, nitong Linggo.
Tiniyak naman ng PCG na kahit anong pambu-bully at aggressive actions, ay hindi magpapatinag ang PCG at BFAR. “We will not be intimidated or driven away, as our presence in the Kalayaan Island Group is crucial for protecting the rights and livelihoods of Filipino fishermen,” sabi pa ni Tarriela.
(JESSE RUIZ)
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