CHINA Coast Guard (CCG) fired water cannons at two Philippine vessels conducting a mission in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal).
In a statement, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said PCG’s BRP Bagacay and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ vessel BRP Datu Bankaw were hit by the CCG’s water cannons.
China Coast Guard ship CCG 3305 used its water cannon against BRP Datu Bankaw at 9:53 a.m. while CCG 3105 and CCG 5303 attacked BRP Bagacay while it was sailing 1,000 yards away from Bajo de Masinloc
BRP Bagacay sustained damage on its railing and canopy, while the starboard astern of the BRP Datu Bankaw was also destroyed.
The BRP Bagacay and the BRP Bankaw were patrolling waters and distributing fuel and food to fisherfolk in Bajo de Masinloc when the water cannons targeted them.
“This damage serves as evidence of the forceful water pressure used by the China Coast Guard in their harassment of the Philippine vessels,” Tarriela said.
