DFA: PH no responsibility over collision between PLAN, CCG in Bajo de Masinloc

The Philippines bears no responsibility for the collision between the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and the China Coast Guard (CCG) near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday. 

"The PHL bears no responsibility for the collision between the PLAN vessel and the CCG vessel in Bajo de Masinloc. It was an unfortunate outcome, but not one caused by our actions,'' Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro said in a statement. 

The DFA earlier expressed serious concern over "dangerous" maneuvers by China against Philippine ships in the region last Monday. 

Manila denounced Beijing's use of force against the Philippine vessels near the shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal, a U-shaped rocky outcrop teeming with marine resources in the West Philippine Sea 124 nautical miles off Zambales.

The flagpole of the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Suluan was also bent after getting hit by a warship of the PLAN during the incident. The PCG vessel sustained the damage when PLAN 164 had a collision with China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 3104 as the two Chinese ships chased the Philippine vessel.

The PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) were on a mission to distribute aid to local fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) as part of the Kadiwa program. 

Despite the harassment, the PCG said it immediately offered support, including assistance with man-overboard recovery and medical aid for any injured CCG crew members. 

The Philippine government, meanwhile, reiterated its demand to China ''for compensation for the damage caused to vessels and equipment last June 17 2024, as well as the return of its firearms and equipment, and the personal effects of its personnel that were illegally seized on that date." 

Censoring the truth? 

At the Senate, Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros alleged that Beijing is “now covering up its maritime mishap” in the West Philippine Sea by spreading disinformation regarding the recent incident. 

“Kahiya-hiya kasi ang nangyaring banggaan ng mga barko nila, kaya kung ano-anong propaganda na lang ang pinapakalat,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

(The collision of their vessels was truly embarrassing that’s why they are spreading propaganda.) 

Hontiveros said that it is China that should pay reparations for the environmental destruction they have caused the Philippine waters. She said she will refile a resolution in the current 20th Congress urging China to pay nearly P20 billion in damages. 

“Pagbayaran dapat ng Tsina ang lahat-lahat ng ginagawa niya laban sa atin—mula sa pambabastos sa ating soberanya hanggang sa pagpapakalat ng kasinungalingan,” she added. 

(China must pay for everything it did against us—from insulting our sovereignty to spreading lies.) — with Giselle Ombay/RSJ, GMA Integrated News