China water cannon attack leaves BFAR personnel with bloodied ear

A personnel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) was injured when a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship fired water cannon at a Philippine vessel during a humanitarian mission in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

- By MARTIN SADONGDONG

A photo handout released by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) showed a BFAR personnel's ear bleeding from apparent injuries when he was hit by broken glass from a damaged window after CCG vessels with tail numbers "5201" and "21562" simultaneously shot BFAR vessel BRP Datu Gumbay Piang (MMOV 3014) with water cannon, and conducted dangerous maneuvers approximately 17 nautical miles east of Bajo de Masinloc at 9:14 a.m.

Ten BFAR ships, two PCG vessels, and a civilian fishery boat M/V Mamalakaya were in the vicinity of the shoal for a "Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda" initiative where they brought fuel, ice, and other provisions to 40 Filipino fishermen operating in the area.