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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Responsible verification' necessary to prove Chinese vessels chasing Filipino craft in West PH Sea, says DFA spokesperson

'Responsible verification' necessary to prove Chinese vessels chasing Filipino craft in West PH Sea, says DFA spokesperson

Published Apr 10, 2021 12:02 pm

Philippine authorities are now looking into the reported incident involving Chinese vessels chasing down a Filipino civilian craft with the ABS-CBN news team aboard in the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday, April 8.

(AFP / MANILA BULLETIN)

If proven to be true, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it will raise the matter with the Chinese government.

DFA Executive Director for Strategic Communications Ivy Banzon-Abalos said a “responsible verification” with expert authorities was necessary to look into the video footage of the chase aired by ABS-CBN.

The foreign affairs office also echoed the call earlier made by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) telling the media to "exercise prudence" following this latest incident.

“The public is reminded to coordinate with Philippine authorities when planning a visit to the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea,” the DFA said in a statement.

In a report by ABS-CBN reporter Chiara Zambrano, she narrated that they were making their way to Ayungin Shoal where a Philippine military detachment is located when a China Coast Guard vessel was spotted on the south side of the shoal.

Several minutes later, the China Coast Guard vessel accelerated its speed and began chasing the Filipino craft and followed the latter on its path home to mainland Palawan for almost an hour, according to Zambrano’s report.

She said the Chinese vessel was so close that she was able to record its bow number 5101.

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