June 7, 2024
MANILA – A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel “intentionally rammed” a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) boat transporting a sick member of the Philippine Navy from Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, revealed Friday, June 7, that the incident took place on May 19.
“The barbaric and inhumane behavior displayed by the China Coast Guard has no place in our society,” Tarriela said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “What should have been a simple medical evacuation operation was subjected to harassment.”
According to Tarriela, the PCG high-speed response boat (HSRB) from Buliluyan Port in Palawan was deployed to a rendezvous point with the Philippine Navy rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), which carried the sick soldier who was stationed at the grounded BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal.
“During our attempt to bring the PCG HSRB alongside the PN RHIB at the rendezvous point, we were harassed by vessels and small boats from the China Coast Guard through blocking operations,” Tarriela said.
“Despite informing the Chinese Coast Guard via radio and public address system about the humanitarian nature of our mission for medical evacuation, they still engaged in dangerous maneuvers and even intentionally rammed the PN RHIB while transporting the sick personnel,” he continued.
Despite this harassment, Tarriela said the sick naval staff was eventually brought to the nearest hospital and received immediate medical attention.
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