The Department of Foreign Affairs condemned the “illegal and aggressive” actions of Chinese vessels during a June 17 routine rotation and resupply (RORE) mission of Philippine vessels in Ayungin Shoal.
The DFA said it “denounces the illegal and aggressive actions of Chinese authorities that resulted in personnel injury and vessel damage.”
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner said the Chinese boarders were armed with swords, spears, and knives.
He denounced the Chinese action as “piracy” and demanded the return of seized weapons and other equipment, as well as reparations for damaged items.
Brawner, who visited the injured sailor in Palawan, said Filipino personnel had “fought back with our bare hands” after Chinese coast guard personnel from eight vessels boarded their rigid-hulled inflatable boats.
“They took guns and other equipment, destroyed our equipment onboard, including the motors. They punctured our rigid-hulled inflatable boats,” he said.
“We are demanding that the Chinese return our rifles and our equipment and we are also demanding from them to pay for the damages that they have caused,” Brawner said.
“For me this is piracy.”
Brawner said the Chinese coast guard carried “bolos” — a type of single-edged sword — as well as spears and knives.
“Our troops had none of those,” he said.
Brawner awarded Seaman First Class Jeffrey Facundo who lost a thumb when the Chinese vessel landed on top of the bow.
Facundo received from Brawner the “wounded personnel medal” while visiting the sailor in Palawan.
“Magpagaling ka, huwag ka mawalan ng pag-asa, nandito kami,” Brawner said.
Facundo said he is still willing to serve in the West Philippine Sea even after the ramming incident.
“Basta may order tayo, babalik tayo.” Facundo politely told Brawner. AFP
Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres, commander for the Philippines’ South China Sea forces, told reporters “seven firearms were looted and forcibly taken” by the Chinese coast guard.
He said communication and navigation equipment and an outboard motor were destroyed and the mobile phones of the Filipino crew were taken.
China deploys coast guard and other boats to patrol the waters around Ayungin Shoal and has turned several reefs into artificial militarized islands.
The DFA reaffirmed its commitment in pursuing peace and stability within the region, noting that it has been “exerting efforts to rebuild a conducive environment for dialogue and consultation with China on the South China Sea.”
“This cannot be achieved if China’s words do not match their actions on the waters. We expect China to act sincerely and responsibly, and refrain from behavior that puts at risk the safety of personnel and vessels,” the DFA said.
For its part, the United States Department of Defense on Wednesday called the attack as “very concerning.”
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said this violent behavior on the part of China was “provocative, reckless, and unnecessary” and could escalate into something bigger.
“We are going to continue to stand with our Philippine allies,” he said.
At the House, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on slammed the Chinese Coast Guard for “criminal acts.”
“The Philippines must demand justice and reparation for the injured Filipino Navy sailors and their damaged vessels as a result of the ruthless assault and aggression of Chinese coast guards in the [WPS], a maritime zone awarded to the Philippines by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016,” Lagman said in a statement.
Senate President Pro Tempore and Defense Committee chairperson Jinggoy Estrada said he was deeply outraged and extremely troubled by the latest hostile actions of the Chinese Coast Guard.
“This is an unacceptable act of aggression, a direct affront to our sovereignty, and a blatant violation of our rights under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” Estrada said.
