The Makabayan bloc, comprised of ACT Teachers Partylist, Gabriela Women’s Partylist and Kabataan Partylist, filed House Resolution 1527 urging House committee on foreign affairs to investigate China Coast Guard’s blasting of water cannons at the Filipino resupply mission in West Philippine Sea last weekend. It also urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to pursue diplomatic actions.
On December 9, the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) used water cannons against the civilian agency Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels Datu Sunday, Datu Bankaw, and Datu Tamblot during a regular humanitarian and support mission providing subsidy and grocery packs to over 30 Filipino fishing vessels near Bajo de Masinloc.
In a post, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro vehemently criticized China’s continued assertion of sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, emphasizing that the country’s claims are baseless and unrecognized by the international community.
“China should wake up from its delusion and face reality. The Philippines has every right to protect its territorial integrity and protect the welfare of its people,” Castro said.
The National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTFWPS) condemned the aggressive actions by China against Philippine vessels.
NTFWPS Spokesperson Jay Tarriela said that the CMM engaged in “dangerous maneuvers” and deployed a long-range acoustic device against the BFAR vessels which caused temporary discomfort and incapacitation to some Filipino crew.
The water cannon blasting resulted in “significant damage” to Datu Tamblot’s communication and navigation equipment.
“The Task Force likewise denounces the deployment of Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats to disperse and drive away Filipino fishing vessels eagerly awaiting distribution of fuel subsidies and food supplies from BFAR ships,” Tarriela said.
Tarriela said Filipino fisherfolk have also reported and documented CCG launching a small boat illegally installing a floating barrier at the southeast entrance of Bajo de Masinloc, preventing BFAR vessels from accessing the entrance of the shoal.
He also renewed calls for Chinese vessels to “leave Bajo de Masinloc immediately.”
