PCG ship damaged by China water cannon blast near Panatag

High-pressure water cannons fired from three China Coast Guard (CCG) ships again greeted Philippine vessels delivering food and other provisions yesterday to fishermen in Panatag or Scarborough Shoal, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.

- EVELYN MACAIRAN

Three more Chinese research vessels were also spotted around Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal aside from the one spotted earlier near Samar, the PCG said.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman on the West Philippine Sea, said three CCG ships with bow numbers 3305, 3105 and 5303 fired their water cannons at the PCG’s 44-meter multi-role response vessel BRP Bagacay and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)’s ship BRP Bankaw. The water cannon attacks began at 9:53 a.m., according to Tarriela.

The Bagacay sustained damage to its starboard after it was rammed by a Chinese vessel.

Tarriela said that during their patrol, the two Philippine vessels “encountered dangerous maneuvers and obstruction” from four CCG vessels and six Chinese maritime militia vessels.

“At approximately 9:53 (a.m.), when the BFAR vessel was about 12 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc, CCG3305 utilized its water cannon, directly hitting the starboard astern of the BFAR vessel,” Tarriela said in a statement.

“When the PCG vessel was approximately 1,000 yards east-southeast of Bajo de Masinloc, CCG-3105 and CCG-5303 employed their jet stream water cannons, targeting the PCG vessel from both sides, resulting in damage to the railing and canopy,” the PCG official added.

“This damage serves as evidence of the forceful water pressure used by the China Coast Guard in their harassment of the Philippine vessels,” he added.

He also pointed out that China had again installed a 380-meter floating barrier around the entire entrance of the shoal, thus restricting access to the area.