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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Was Philippine flag the target of water cannon attack? PCG answers

Was Philippine flag the target of water cannon attack? PCG answers

Published May 3, 2024 07:29 am

At A Glance

  • The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Friday that the China Coast Guard (CCG) sought to immobilize the vessel BRP Bagacay during their latest water cannon attack.

43AF8089-F67B-44BE-87D1-021F2D2FB2D4.jpegPhilippine Coast Guard (PCG) Spokesperson Commodore Jay Tristan Tarriela answers questions from the media (Dexter Barro II/MANILA BULLETIN)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Narciso, Zambales——The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Friday that the China Coast Guard (CCG) sought to immobilize the vessel BRP Bagacay during their latest water cannon attack.

“Well for the coast guard, ang alam naman natin,  we notice na tinitira ng water cannon yung mga (What we do know is that we noticed that the water cannon was fired on the) communication equipment and the navigation equipment,” said PCG Spokesperson Commodore Jay Tristan Tarriela during an interview with the media here.

“And of course, we are relatively dependent sa ating (on the) communication equipment and navigation equipment. So, for us, ang intensyon talaga nila doon is to target all those antennas na nasa superstructure natin (their real intention there is to target all those antennas on our superstructure),” he added.

On Tuesday, April 30, two government vessels on a resupply mission to Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) were once again blasted with water cannon by the CCG.

This latest attack was described to be “potentially deadly” since the jet stream pressure used was enough to damage a steel railing and canopy of the BRP Bagacay.

In a drone footage shown by a GMA News reporter, the CCG vessel was seen directly aiming the water cannon at the Philippine flag on the PCG ship.

“Doon sa question na flag ba talaga ang intentionally na tina-target ng (As for the question, was the flag really intentionally targeted by the) People’s Republic of China, well, we can say na that could be possible,” noted Tarriela.

“But the objective of the water cannoning no’ng nakaraang insidente noong (during the previous incident on) April 30, is for them to terminate the mobility ng coast guard vessel and BFAR,” he stressed.

Tarriela, however, admitted that this could be interpreted as a bigger deal given that the country’s own flag was seemingly targeted.

“Ito talaga napakasakit sa atin bilang Pilipino (This really hurts as Filipinos),” he emphasized.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Spokesperson Ambassador Ma. Teresita Daza says she is pleased with the public’s reaction to this incident.

“I am happy that the people are pained by it just as I think that it’s important that we realize that this issue that is happening in the West Philippine Sea is an issue of the entire country. It’s not just an issue of those in Zambales or the nearby areas,” said Daza.

She noted that the DFA will further investigate this matter. “It’s difficult to say that this should be protested,” she said.

Related Tags

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Philippine flag china coast guard Jay Tristan Tarriela
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