Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, General Romeo Brawner Jr. refuted the claims of China Coast Guard (CCG) that it drove away a Philippine Navy (PN) gunboat in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal), saying it was "mere propaganda."

In a statement posted on the official website of CCG on Tuesday, Oct. 10, CCG spokesperson Gan Yu said a Philippine Navy gunboat "ignored China's repeated dissuasion and warnings and insisted on intruding into the waters" adjacent to Huangyan Island, or Bajo de Masinloc.

"Even though multiple warnings were ineffective, the Chinese Coast Guard took necessary measures to drive away the Philippine ship, including forcing it out of custody and controlling the route. The on-site operations were professional, standardized, legitimate and legal," Gan said.

However, Brawner revealed that the Philippine Navy has no deployment in Bajo de Masinloc as the concentration of the maritime patrol now was in the southern part of the country.

"Kwan lang 'yun, propaganda lang nila. Galing sa Beijing 'yon 'di ba? (It's just mere propaganda by them. It came from Beijing right?)," the AFP Chief said.

"Nandoon tayo sa south, sa baba. Maski nga pinutol natin 'yong obstacle walang Navy doon eh, coast guard lang (We are there down south. Even if we cut off the obstacle, there is no Navy presence there, only [Philippine] Coast Guard)," he added. 

Last Sept. 25, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) cut a floating barrier installed by CCG at the southeast entrance of Bajo de Masinloc.

Brawner said that the CCG must have been making propaganda to convince their people that their "leadership" is doing something good in the areas they are claiming in the South China Sea.

"To show na may ginagawa sa baba kasi they are concerned with their internal audience eh. 'Yong leadership nila, nagpapakwan lang 'yon, nagpapapogi (That's just to show that they are doing something as they are concerned with their internal audience. Their leadership just wants to make themselves look good)," he said.

The military chief stressed that the CCG and their military would never be able to drive away Philippine Navy vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

"Hindi tayo papayag (We will not allow it). [That is our] exclusive economic zone [EEZ]. It is our duty, it is our right to make sure that our fishermen can fish in our economic zone," Brawner said.

Tension between the Philippines and China over Bajo de Masinloc has been high as both countries ae engaged in an exchange of heated words over its sovereignty.

Bajo de Masinloc’s chain of reefs and rocks is located at approximately 124 nautical miles from the nearest coast of Luzon and approximately 472 nautical miles from the nearest coast of China. 

The rocks of Bajo de Masinloc are situated north of Kalayaan Island Group (Spratlys Island), and located within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile EEZ and 200-nautical mile continental shelf.

Originally, Bajo de Masinloc was administered by the Philippines as it was considered a part of Zambales province but in 2012, a standoff between Philippine Navy and Chinese vessels ended up with the shoal being seized by Beijing.