IN what appears to be another barbaric behaviour, Chinese Coast Guard tried to block Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Sindangan from rescuing fishermen who were wounded on Saturday in an explosion off the Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea.
Initial reports had two of the eight Filipino fishermen as injured after their fishing boat Akio encountered an engine explosion 17 nautical miles southwest of Bajo de Masinloc.
Injured were Freddie Legaspi (boat captain) and Rolando Lumapaz.
Other fishermen on board the boat were Mark Asuki, Lowigi Asuki, Ernie Adliana, Erick Ricolozado, Gilbert Sabido and Birgiliu Repondi Alacre.
PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said a CCG vessel and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ships tried to stop BRP Sindangan during the towing operation for the half-submerged boat.
“The CCG and PLA Navy vessels stopped shadowing our ship when they were informed by the Angel of the Sea on board about the humanitarian mission,” he said.
“The CCG also launched two rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) and offered to help the eight fishermen of FFB Akio,” he added, even as Balilo insisted.that the safety of injured fishermen should always be the priority in times of emergencies.
But unlike in previous tussles, PCG was able to persuade CCG to set aside issues on sovereignty for humanitarianism.
“The swift rescue operation proves the significance of our constant presence at BDM,” he said.
“We will not elevate tension, but we will remain firm on our mission to ensure the safety of lives at sea. Rest assured that Coast Guardians will continue to protect, look after, and take good care of the welfare of our fishermen no matter what, the Coast Guard way,” he continued.
Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
The Pinoy fishermen safely arrived earlier today at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Port in Subic, Zambales via the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Sindangan.
“The Coast Guard crew turned over the two injured fishermen of FFB Akio to the SBMA Public Health and Safety Department (PHSD) for transport to the nearest hospital for further medical assistance,” reads a PCG statement.
China is claiming almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Manila refers parts of the waters within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippine Sea.
In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in the Hague ruled that China’s claims over the South China Sea had no legal basis, a decision Beijing does not recognize. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
