THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) have condemned what they described as aggressive and dangerous actions by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese maritime militia near Pag-asa Island, asserting that they will not back down from protecting Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.
According to PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, the incident occurred on Tuesday morning while three BFAR vessels, including the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, were anchored in the territorial waters of Pag-asa Island as part of the “Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda” (KBBM) program — an initiative that supports local fishermen operating in the Kalayaan Island Group.
At around 8:15 a.m., Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels reportedly conducted provocative and dangerous maneuvers, approaching the BFAR ships and activating their water cannons as a clear show of force.
The situation escalated an hour later when CCG vessel 21559 fired its water cannon directly at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, hitting the vessel. Just three minutes later, at 9:18 a.m., the same Chinese vessel rammed the stern of the Filipino ship, causing minor structural damage but leaving no reported injuries among the crew.
Despite the aggression, Tarriela said the PCG and BFAR remained steadfast in carrying out their mission.
“We will not be intimidated or driven away. Our presence in the Kalayaan Island Group is crucial to protecting the rights and livelihoods of Filipino fishermen,” Tarriela said.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan also condemned the harassment, saying it only strengthened their determination to safeguard the country’s territory.
“The harassment we faced today only strengthens our resolve. Filipino fisherfolk depend on these waters, and neither water cannons nor ramming will deter us from fulfilling our commitment to President Ferdinand Marcos to not surrender a square inch of our territory to any foreign power,” Gavan said.
The PCG said it continues to document the incident and coordinate with other government agencies for appropriate diplomatic and legal actions.
