WPS research missions won't stop despite China aggression — BFAR

GMA Network

24-05-2025

China Coast Guard vessel 21559 fires a water cannon and sideswipes a BFAR vessel in Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) in the West Philippine Sea on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Courtesy: Philippine Coast Guard video screen grab
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) remains committed to conduct marine research missions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) despite continued aggression from the China Coast Guard (CCG).
"Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na binomba 'yung barko ng BFAR at alam niyo naman na hindi tayo nagpapatinag, tuloy pa rin naman ang pagsasagawa ng mandato ng ahensya sa kabila nga mga iresponsable, marahas, na aksyon ng Chinese Coast Guard sa West Philippine Sea," BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera said during the Saturday News Forum.
(This is not the first time that a water cannon was fired at a BFAR vessel. This will not stop us from performing the agency's mandate despite the irresponsible, aggressive actions of the Chinese Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea.)
The BFAR official made the pronouncement after a CCG ship fired a water cannon and sideswiped the agency's vessels in Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay).
According to the Fisheries bureau, its ships BRP Datu Sanday and BRP Datu Pagbuaya were on a routine mission with a scientific team to collect sand samples in the area as part of a marine scientific research initiative.
The BFAR said the Philippine scientific team was able to complete its operations in Pag-asa Cays 1, 2 and 3 despite the CCG and Chinese maritime militia vessels' "aggressive, dangerous, and illegal" actions.
The bureau pointed out that the incident happened within the territorial sea of the Philippines in the area of Pag-asa Island and Pag-asa Cay 2, which are part of the Kalayaan Island Group in the WPS.
"Hindi ito magiging dahilan para tumigil tayo na gawin ang misyon, mandato ng ahensya sa pakikipagtulungan ng ibang concerned agency like the Philippine Coast Guard… nasa karagatan tayo na sakop ng teritoryo ng Pilipinas, may karapatan tayo na magsagawa ng mga gawain, ayon sa mandato ng aming ahensya," Briguera said.
(This will not be the reason for us to stop doing our mission, the mandate of the agency in cooperation with other concerned agencies like the Philippine Coast Guard… We are in the maritime zone that is part of Philippine territory. We have the right to conduct our activities in accordance with the mandate of our agency.)
In a statement, the China Coast Guard said it took "control measures" against the Philippine vessels, which it said "illegally intruded" into waters near Subi Reef and Sandy Cay.
CCG spokesperson Liu Dejun also claimed that one of the Philippine vessels "dangerously" approached and collided with a CCG ship, and that responsibility "lies entirely" with the Philippine side.
Briguera dismissed the CCG's claim, adding that evidence will show who really is the aggressor in the particular incident.
"Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na naglabas tayo ng ebidensya kung sino talaga kumabaga ang gumawa ng provocative action sa mga ganitong pagkakataon," he said.
The BFAR official said that CCG's moves on its vessels "would entail thousands of pesos doon sa damage kasi itong mga barko natin hindi basta-basta 'yung mga materials ng mga barko natin… thousands, maybe millions of pesos."
(... would entail thousands of pesos to repair the damage because our vessels are made of high-quality materials... the cost may be thousands, if not millions of pesos.)
"Nasa ano naman 'yan, protocol na kapag nagkaroon ng damage ibabalik sa home court …ia-assess 'yung damage," Briguera said.
(Whatever the case may be, whenever our vessels sustain damage, they must be brought back to home court... to assess the damage.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News