BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry P. Treñas yesterday condemned what he called “harassment” in the collision between the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“I am outraged to learn of the recent collision between a Philippine Coast Guard vessel and a Chinese Coast Guard ship in the West Philippine Sea. This incident, resulting in damage to our PCG vessel, is a blatant disregard for international law and a direct threat to the safety and security of our Filipino personnel,” Treñas said.
He said the reported “dangerous maneuvers” by the Chinese Coast Guard are “not only irresponsible but also a threat to the brave men and women who patrol our waters.”
“The conduct of a routine resupply mission is a right guaranteed by international law within our territorial waters. We stand in solidarity with our brave men and women of the Philippine Coast Guard who diligently patrol and protect our waters,” the mayor added.
Treñas said he supports the action made by the government in demanding that China should remove “immediately” its vessels from the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal after protesting the dangerous maneuvers by the Chinese Coast Guard that caused minor damage and injuries to a Filipino resupply mission.
“We urge the Chinese government to immediately cease these provocative actions and engage in diplomatic channels to peacefully resolve territorial disputes,” the mayor said.
He said the safety and well-being of the Filipino people and the security of the nation are paramount.
“We will not tolerate any infringement on our rights in the West Philippine Sea. We call upon the national government to take all necessary actions to assert our claims and ensure the safety of our Filipino personnel in the disputed waters,” said Treñas.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned on Tuesday, March 5, Chinese Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong to raise its position on the incident.
During the meeting, the Philippines reiterated that China’s interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is “unacceptable.”
“China’s actions in Ayungin Shoal infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction. The Philippines demands that Chinese vessels leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal immediately,” it said in a statement.
PCG’s BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407) collided with CCG vessel 21555 while on its way to escort the resupply boats to BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) due to the latter’s “dangerous maneuvers and blocking,” causing minor structural damage to the Filipino ship.
At around 8:15 a.m., another CCG vessel caused a minor collision with Unaizah May 4 (UM40), one of the two resupply boats, again due to the Chinese ship’s “dangerous blocking maneuvers.”
Four crew members of the Unaizah May 4 also sustained minor injuries after CCG vessels 21555 and 21551 pounded the boat with water cannons that shattered the Philippine vessel’s windshield.
This prompted Unaizah May 4 to return to mainland Palawan, with BRP Sindangan as an escort./PN
