Phl ship damaged in Chinese water cannon attack

A boat commissioned to bring supplies to troops manning a grounded vessel at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) suffered serious engine damage after it was blasted with a water cannon by the China Coast Guard (CCG).

- EVELYN MACAIRAN

Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)WPS spokesperson, confirmed on X that a regular routine resupply and rotation or RORE mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin was conducted yesterday morning.

“BRP Cabra, Unaizah Mae 1 (UM1) and M/L Kalayaan water cannoned by China Coast Guard. M/L Kalayaan suffered serious engine damage. Contrary to China Coast Guard disinformation, UM1 rammed by CCG vessel,” Tarriela said.

The National Task Force-WPS (NTF-WPS), of which the PCG is one of the memberagencies, said in a statement that while the two supply boats M/L Kalayaan and UM1– escorted by the PCG’s BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan – were traversing the WPS, they were reportedly harassed and blocked by the CCG and Chinese maritime militia vessels.

The NTF-WPS said that the CCG and militia ships also executed dangerous maneuvers on the two civilian supply vessels from the Philippines, and seriously placed the lives of the Filipino crew in danger.

“CCG vessel 5204 deployed a water cannon against the Philippine supply vessels causing severe damage to M/L Kalayaan’s engines, disabling the vessel and seriously endangering the lives of its crew,” the NTF-WPS said.

As of last night, the Sindangan was reported to be safely towing the disabled Kalayaan back to Ulugan Bay in Palawan.

The task force also reported that the mast of the PCG’s other vessel