Former Senator Kiko Pangilinan strongly condemned the latest incident of harassment by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) against a patrol vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) at Bajo de Masinloc.
According to reports, the CCG used water cannons and collided with the BFAR vessel BRP Datu Pagbuaya. The Philippine Coast Guard vessels BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Cabra also experienced “dangerous maneuvers” from the People’s Liberation Army Navy.
“Sa agresibo at iresponsableng pagkilos na ito ng China, nalagay sa alanganin ang buhay ng mga tauhan ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources at Philippine Coast Guard,” Pangilinan said.
The former senator called on the government to file a diplomatic protest against this latest bullying by China, as the incident happened within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Walang karapatan ang China na gawin ito dahil ito’y karagatang saklaw ng Pilipinas.”
“Walang karapatan ang China na gawin ito dahil ito’y karagatang saklaw ng Pilipinas,” Pangilinan asserted.
Pangilinan further called on the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to continue and intensify patrols to protect the rights of Filipinos and the country’s territory against the illegal intrusion of an oppressive foreign power.
