MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela said that the incident off Palawan involving a Philippine fisheries vessel and the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) early Friday was “intentional ramming” and not a collision.
“It was not a collision, it was an intentional ramming done by the China Coast Guard 21585,” Tarriela said during an online press conference.
READ: PCG: China Coast Guard ship rams BFAR vessel off Palawan
The PCG earlier reported that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ (BFAR) BRP Datu Magat Salamat was struck by a CCG vessel around 11:13 a.m. while it was on a fuel subsidy mission for Filipino fishermen near Abad Santos shoal.
“Based on our records, this is the closest ever that the China Coast Guard did this intentional ramming and disregard the safety of our personnel on board BFAR and even Coast Guard vessels,” he stressed.
He said that the vessel is en route to Coron Port to assess its sea voyage condition following the incident.
Based on the initial assessment, portions of the BFAR vessel’s main railing was bent, broken, and detached, while its starboard side ended up with a deformed metal stanchions and support structures.
Tarriela emphasized that the ramming incident occurred only 54 nautical miles, or about 100 kilometers, from the coastline of Palawan.
“And yet, the Chinese Coast Guard never hesitated to carry out this unprofessional behavior para banggain and even disregard ang safety ng ating mga sailors ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources,” he expressed.
(“And yet, the Chinese Coast Guard never hesitated to carry out this unprofessional behavior to violate and even disregard the safety of our sailors of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources,”)
He added that the operations of the BFAR was purely humanitarian, with three other vessels deployed in the Kalayaan Island Group.
“Wala itong ginagawang operation that provoke anybody or any state. Ang tanging gampanin lamang nito ay mamigay ng fuel subsidy at food pack sa ating mga kababayang nangingisda sa Kalayaan Island Group,” he said.
(“It is not conducting any operation that provokes anyone or any state. Its sole mission is to distribute fuel subsidies and food packs to our fellow citizens who fish in the Kalayaan Island Group,”) /mr
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