Chinese vessel runs aground off Pag-asa Island
A Chinese fishing vessel ran aground just kilometers from Pag-asa Island, part of the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea where the Philippines maintains its longstanding sovereignty and jurisdiction, on Saturday afternoon amid stormy weather conditions.
The vessel was reported to have run aground during the low tide on Saturday, and was eventually pulled by two other Chinese fishing vessels past 5 p.m. the same day, according to the Kalayaan Island Group local government unit.
'May mga naiwan pa nga doon na parang floating buoy. Hindi rin nila mapuntahan gawa ng malakas daw 'yung alon,' Kalayaan Island Group councilor MP Albayda said in a report by Chino Gaston on GMA's '24 Oras Weekend' on Sunday.
'May humilang dalawa na Chinese fishing militia rin, tapos ang ano nila ay paatras, paatras 'yung hila ng nabahurang barko,' he added.
(There were floating buoys that were left. They couldn't go immediately because the waves were strong. There were two Chinese fishing militia vessels that towed the grounded vessel backwards.)
Photos of the vessel were uploaded on social media by KIG resident Larry Hugo, who expressed doubts whether the vessel accidentally ran aground or if this was intentional.
The incident prompted Filipino authorities to respond, with the Philippine Coast Guard deploying its force to check on the vessel.
'Na-report din po 'yan ng mga local fisherfolk sa authorities, so eventually, may naging actions po ang ating Coast Guard which is pinuntahan po nila, nag-deploy po sila ng force, pwersa nila, para i-check,' Naval Task Force 42 spokesperson Capt. Elaine Rose Collado said in the same report.
(Local fisherfolk reported this to authorities so eventually, the Coast Guard took actions — they deployed their forces to check.)
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro over the weekend also flew to Balabac, Palawan to inspect the location of a planned airbase and naval station.
'Recognized international sea lane dito so minsan, dumadaan talaga dito ang mga Chinese vessels at eto, 'pag hindi nadama or hindi nagkaroon ng presence dito, napakadali na abusuhin ng foreign influence and other inappropriate illegal activities dito,' he said.
(This is a recognized international sea lane so sometimes, Chinese vessels really pass through here. If there is no presence felt here, it is easy for foreign influence to abuse it or for other inappropriate illegal activities to be done here.)
Balabac, Palawan is one of the locations of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites between the Philippines and the United States, which gives the US military access to Philippine bases for joint training, along with humanitarian and disaster relief efforts.
To recall, the Philippines in 2013 challenged China over its claims on the West Philippine Sea, where Manila scored a victory and a landmark ruling by an international tribunal which invalidated Beijing's claims.
China has refused to acknowledge the Permanent Court of Arbitration's 2016 ruling that invalidated its nine-dash line. Its government in 2022 claimed that it will continue to adhere to what it described as a 'friendly consultation' with the Philippines after several Chinese vessels have been found 'swarming' areas in the West Philippine Sea.
The Philippines has already filed over 150 diplomatic protests against China regarding the territorial dispute under the administration of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
an hour ago
- GMA Network
BI chief Viado denies corruption allegations
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado on Monday denied corruption allegations in the bureau, including the supposed mishandling of cases related to the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country. In a press statement, Viado dismissed as 'patently false' the accusations purportedly contained in a letter sent by BI employees to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week, wherein they supposedly accused the BI chief of corruption. 'For the record, I unequivocally state that all the allegations contained in the alleged 'white paper' are patently false,' he said. 'Should any pertinent agency of the national government decide to look into the supposed 'allegations,' I reiterate the commitment of the Bureau to lend its fullest support,' he said. BI employees — who wished to remain anonymous due to concerns of retaliation from Viado — allegedly submitted a letter to the Office of the President (OP) to report the supposed corrupt practices under the present BI leadership including the mishandling of POGO-related cases and their deportation. Malacañang has yet to confirm receipt of the letter dated June 2 but a supposed copy of it showed that it was received by the OP on June 5, 2025. Viado dismissed the letter as part of a 'smear campaign.' He also accused a senior BI official of fueling the propaganda after the BI chief supposedly rejected his request to release a Chinese national linked to a powerful political figure from the previous administration. 'I was also told that my rejection of the plea by this person to release the said Chinese national may have fueled the smear campaign. I have disregarded these warnings because the mandate I accepted was never about protecting myself, but about cleaning up a system long plagued by abuse. If the price of reform is to be the target of black propaganda, then so be it,' he said. Viado warned of exposing the parties behind the alleged smear campaign in 'due time.' 'I have assured those who have expressed their concern over the threats from these interests that no amount of smear will stop us from continuing our efforts at reforms in the agency,' the BI chief said. 'It is unfortunate that these interests are using the name of the hardworking men and women of the bureau to mask themselves and their hideous agenda. I warn these parties in turn that they shall be exposed in due time. The public deserves the truth and the truth will stand,' he added. —Sundy Locus/AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
14 hours ago
- GMA Network
PH Consulate in LA closely monitoring mass immigration raids, protests
Members of security forces operate during a standoff between police and protesters following multiple detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in the Los Angeles County city of Compton, California, June 7, 2025. REUTERS/ Daniel Cole NEW YORK — The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles is closely monitoring the large-scale immigration operations currently being conducted by US federal authorities across multiple locations in the California county, sparking tension and public protests. According to Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz, the consulate is still verifying reports that a Filipino national was among the dozens arrested during the coordinated raids led by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Initial reports from US federal immigration authorities stated that a 55-year-old Filipino national from Ontario, California, was among those taken into custody. Allegedly with a pending notice to appear before an immigration court, the individual had supposedly previously been sentenced to four years in prison for burglary and is currently serving a 37-year prison sentence for sexual penetration with a foreign object by force and assault with intent to commit rape, stemming from an incident that occurred in the city of Pomona. The ICE operation, which began last Friday, has triggered protests throughout the Los Angeles area. Advocacy groups and immigration rights supporters have taken to the streets, denouncing what they claim are excessive and discriminatory enforcement practices. To assist federal agents, over 2,000 National Guard troops have already been deployed to various parts of California, particularly in Los Angeles, as the raids continue. The Philippine Consulate said that it remains vigilant in monitoring developments and will provide consular assistance as needed, especially if more Filipino nationals are affected by the ongoing operations. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
20 hours ago
- GMA Network
Chinese vessel runs aground off Pag-asa Island
A Chinese fishing vessel ran aground just kilometers from Pag-asa Island, part of the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea where the Philippines maintains its longstanding sovereignty and jurisdiction, on Saturday afternoon amid stormy weather conditions. The vessel was reported to have run aground during the low tide on Saturday, and was eventually pulled by two other Chinese fishing vessels past 5 p.m. the same day, according to the Kalayaan Island Group local government unit. 'May mga naiwan pa nga doon na parang floating buoy. Hindi rin nila mapuntahan gawa ng malakas daw 'yung alon,' Kalayaan Island Group councilor MP Albayda said in a report by Chino Gaston on GMA's '24 Oras Weekend' on Sunday. 'May humilang dalawa na Chinese fishing militia rin, tapos ang ano nila ay paatras, paatras 'yung hila ng nabahurang barko,' he added. (There were floating buoys that were left. They couldn't go immediately because the waves were strong. There were two Chinese fishing militia vessels that towed the grounded vessel backwards.) Photos of the vessel were uploaded on social media by KIG resident Larry Hugo, who expressed doubts whether the vessel accidentally ran aground or if this was intentional. The incident prompted Filipino authorities to respond, with the Philippine Coast Guard deploying its force to check on the vessel. 'Na-report din po 'yan ng mga local fisherfolk sa authorities, so eventually, may naging actions po ang ating Coast Guard which is pinuntahan po nila, nag-deploy po sila ng force, pwersa nila, para i-check,' Naval Task Force 42 spokesperson Capt. Elaine Rose Collado said in the same report. (Local fisherfolk reported this to authorities so eventually, the Coast Guard took actions — they deployed their forces to check.) Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro over the weekend also flew to Balabac, Palawan to inspect the location of a planned airbase and naval station. 'Recognized international sea lane dito so minsan, dumadaan talaga dito ang mga Chinese vessels at eto, 'pag hindi nadama or hindi nagkaroon ng presence dito, napakadali na abusuhin ng foreign influence and other inappropriate illegal activities dito,' he said. (This is a recognized international sea lane so sometimes, Chinese vessels really pass through here. If there is no presence felt here, it is easy for foreign influence to abuse it or for other inappropriate illegal activities to be done here.) Balabac, Palawan is one of the locations of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites between the Philippines and the United States, which gives the US military access to Philippine bases for joint training, along with humanitarian and disaster relief efforts. To recall, the Philippines in 2013 challenged China over its claims on the West Philippine Sea, where Manila scored a victory and a landmark ruling by an international tribunal which invalidated Beijing's claims. China has refused to acknowledge the Permanent Court of Arbitration's 2016 ruling that invalidated its nine-dash line. Its government in 2022 claimed that it will continue to adhere to what it described as a 'friendly consultation' with the Philippines after several Chinese vessels have been found 'swarming' areas in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines has already filed over 150 diplomatic protests against China regarding the territorial dispute under the administration of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF, GMA Integrated News
