Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 23) — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) expects the findings of its maritime investigation on the Chinese-Filipino vessels collision in Ayungin Shoal in five days, a high-ranking official said Monday.
According to PCG Admiral Ronnie Gavan, directives to examine the extent of damages incurred by the Filipino vessels involved in the collision have already been given to the Palawan District.
“The PCG will now focus on the conduct of a marine incident investigation…but at this point, it is very, very clear that the two incidents are violations of collision regulations,” Gavan said in a media briefing.
“We are looking at five days to complete the investigation. We will submit it to the President through the Department of Transportation,” he added.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea reported Sunday morning that Chinese ships collided with Filipino vessels on a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal.
Authorities in Palawan said a PCG vessel in the mission suffered a “dent” while the AFP-contracted resupply boat had a broken back post due to the collision.
In a senate hearing, the Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones expressed its support in approving the establishment of the country’s maritime zones under the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.
The special committee emphasized the need to pass the law to strengthen the domestic law of the Philippines against other countries’ aggression in its waters.
“This will be our domestic version of an international agreement and these are the laws of the coastal state. Therefore, all flag states with vessels plying, for example our maritime waters, would also have a duty to comply with the laws enacted with the coastal state like the Philippines,” Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra told the hearing.
The proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act, or House Bill 7819, provides for a general declaration of the maritime zones under Philippine jurisdiction, including internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.
READ: Expedite bill on Maritime Zones to establish legal bases in West PH Sea – expert
Guevarra also said it is clear that China should be asked to comply with its obligations under international law.
“Based on our initial determination mukhang intentional ‘yung incident at hindi naman siya accidental only. And besides, it seems na habitual ito, hindi naman ito isolated incident lang,” he added.
[Translation: Based on our initial determination, it looks like the incident was intentional and not an accident. It seems to be habitual too, not just an isolated incident]
“We will definitely recommend to the DFA to call on China to respect or to rather comply with its obligations in international law to settle disputes peacefully and to cease and desist from committing such further acts,” he said.
PCG Spokesperson Jay Tarriela also said that the collision did not escalate tensions in the WPS.
“No escalation but there is a collision because of dangerous maneuvers of Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia,” he said.
‘Unified’ stand vs China
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. urged Filipinos to refrain from believing false information on what transpired during the vessels’ collision and called for a “unified” stand to condemn China’s harassment in the WPS.
“Wag po itong maging ugat ng pagtatanim ng fake news ng Tsina o ng iba pa upang tayo’y magkawatak-watak at magdebate ng malalaki sa mga isyu na ganito dahil sa oras po na ito ay kailangan po ng pagkakaisa ng ating bansa,” the defense chief said in a Monday briefing.
[Translation: Let this not be the root of fake news planted by China or others to divide us and engage us in big debates on issues like this. At this time we need unity in our country.]
Teodoro said the pattern in statements released by China on incidents in the WPS as well as their take on the 9- and 10-dash line showed that they are “spinning a narrative.”
In August, PCG warned Filipinos against falling for fake news and misinformation on the situation in the contested waters, something the agency said may have swayed Filipinos towards China.
This call came a week after the CCG used a water cannon on Philippine vessels on a previous resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
CNN Philippines correspondent Eimor Santos, digital producers Kristelle Anne Razon and Faith Yuen Wei Ragasa contributed to this report.
