Palace on water cannon attack in WPS: Safety of Pinoy fisherfolk is priority

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. wants to ensure the safety of fisherfolk following China's recent water cannon attack against Filipino fishermen at Sabina Shoal (Escoda Shoal), an atoll within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President also directed for a deployment in strategic locations to protect fisherfolk. 

''Nakausap po mismo natin si Commodore Tarriela, at ang ipinagbilin po at ang direktiba ng Pangulo ay unahin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan, ang mga mangingisda na minsan ay nanganganib ang kanilang buhay,'' Castro said.

(We talked to Commodore Tarriela and he said the directive of the President is to prioritize the safety of the citizens, our fishermen whose lives are in danger.) 

''At ipinag-utos din po na magkaroon ng deployment sa mga strategic location para po mabantayan at mabigyan ng proteksyon ang ating mga mangingisda,'' she added.

(He also ordered for a deployment in strategic location to ensure protection for fisherfolk.) 

Three fishermen were injured in the attack, which also caused “significant damage” to two fishing vessels, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The PCG said some 20 Filipino fishing boats at the vicinity of Escoda Shoal were "targeted with water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers" by two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and accompanying Chinese militia ships.

"In a brazen escalation, small CCG Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) deliberately cut the anchor lines of several FFBs, endangering the vessels and their crews amid strong currents and high waves," the PCG said.

"As a direct result of these aggressive actions, three Filipino fishermen sustained physical injuries, including bruises and open wounds," it added.

On Friday, China's coast guard said it had driven away multiple Philippine vessels and taken "control measures."

Castro, meanwhile, said that the President is supportive of purchasing more vessels for the PCG in a bid to protect the country's interest. 

''At sinusuportahan po ng Pangulo ang pagbili ng mga coast guard vessels para mas marami po ang makapagbantay din po sa ating interes at interes ng ating mga kababayan. At ito ho ang panahon upang ang bawat Pilipino ay magkaisa, iangat ang interes ng bansa natin, iangat ang interes ng kapuwa Pilipino natin,'' she said.

(The President supports the purchase of coast guard vessels to protect the interest of Filipinos. This is the time wherein Filipinos must uplift the interest of the country and the citizens.) 

Located 75 nautical miles or about 140 kilometers off Palawan, Escoda Shoal is a coral reef formation with a central lagoon surrounded by discontinuous shallow sections. It is also called Sabina Shoal, which China refers to as Xianbin Reef.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." — BM, GMA Integrated News