China Vessel Rams Boat Transporting Ill Pinoy Soldier
CHINA – A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) boat carrying a sick Philippine Navy member from Ayungin Shoal was “intentionally rammed” by a China Coast Guard vessel.
A vessel from the China Coast Guard (CCG) “intentionally rammed” a boat from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) that was transporting a sick member of the Philippine Navy from Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
Based on a report from Inquirer, Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the PCG in the West Philippine Sea, disclosed on Friday, June 7, that the incident occurred on May 19.
Tarriela stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “The barbaric and inhumane behavior displayed by the China Coast Guard has no place in our society,” “What should have been a simple medical evacuation operation was subjected to harassment.”
He explained that the PCG high-speed response boat (HSRB) from Buliluyan Port in Palawan was sent to meet a Philippine Navy rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), which was carrying the sick soldier 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.
According to the report, despite the harassment, the sick naval personnel were eventually taken to the nearest hospital in Bataraza, Palawan, where they received immediate medical care.
“They successfully outmaneuvered the numerous CCG assets and completed the transfer of the sick personnel, ensuring their safe arrival at Buliluyan Port,” Tarriela said.
Additionally, the CCG obstructed the resupply mission for BRP Sierra Madre, which also took place on May 19.
CCG personnel aboard two rigid hull inflatable boats seized and discarded food and other supplies that had been airdropped by a military aircraft for the naval outpost.
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