Better to get hurt by water cannons than retaliate - PCG

It’s still best not to hit back in the face of water cannon attacks by the Chinese, as retaliating would give them an excuse for an escalation, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commodore Jay Tarriela said yesterday.

- GHIO ONG

Last Tuesday, the China Coast Guard (CCG) unleashed what could be its fiercest water cannon attack yet on Philippine vessels on humanitarian mission for fishermen in Panatag Shoal. The attack caused serious damage to the PCG’s BRP Bagacay and the Bankaw of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

While generally praised for its tenacity, the PCG was also maligned on social media supposedly for cowardice for not retaliating against the Chinese.

“I think it’s unfair for the PCG to be labeled as coward, for not using its water cannon. In the first place, if they do really think that the coast guards are cowards, they should have already stopped this (humanitarian missions) in the first place, they should have already stopped publicizing this (Chinese attacks),” he said in an interview over radio dzBB.

The pressure from Chinese water cannons was reportedly more than 200 pounds per square inch or powerful enough to make a dent on metal or even kill.

PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan has ordered an immediate damage assessment on BRP Bagacay.