Latest news with #BFAR
GMA Network
26-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
PCG sends 2 vessels to escort Atin Ito civilian mission to West PH Sea
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said it has deployed two of its vessels to escort Atin Ito Coalition's civilian-led mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from May 26 to 30. PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela identified the two vessels as BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Malapascua. 'Yesterday, BRP Melchora Aquino, ito ang isa sa pinakamalaking barko ng PCG, ay umalis na sa Puerto Princesa, Palawan patungo sa El Nido. This afternoon, it will be arriving at El Nido,' he said in a press briefing. (Yesterday, BRP Melchora Aquino, one of the largest ships of the PCG, departed Puerto Princesa, Palawan heading to El Nido. This afternoon, it will be arriving at El Nido.) 'And for the other vessel na sinabi ni [Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan] na ipapadala namin, BRP Malapascua is also prepositioned as well in El Nido, Palawan,' he added. (And for the other vessel that the Commandant said we will send, BRP Malapascua is also prepositioned as well in El Nido, Palawan.) Atin Ito, over the weekend, said its civilian-led mission to the WPS will continue despite the recent aggression of Chinese vessels in Sandy Cay. 'We proceed as planned, and we hope to conduct our musical event, ideally and safely within the vicinity of Pag asa Island. Ang dala natin ay kapayapaan sa pamamagitan ng musika, hindi lenguwahe ng giyera,' Atin Ito Coalition convenor Rafaela David said in a statement. (What we bring is peace through music, not the language of war.) A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship fired water cannon and sideswiped a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel in Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) in the WPS on May 22. BFAR said its BRP Datu Sanday and BRP Datu Pagbuaya were on a routine mission with a scientific team to collect sand samples in the area. 'At approximately 0913H, CCG vessel 21559 water cannoned and sideswiped the BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) twice, resulting in some damage to the latter's port bow and smokestack, and putting at risk lives of its civilian personnel onboard,' BFAR said. 'This incident marks the first time water cannons have been used against DA-BFAR research vessels in the area of the Pag-Asa Cays,' it added. 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. CCG said that it took "control measures" against the Philippine vessels which it said "illegally intruded" into waters near Subi Reef and Sandy Cay. Liu Dejun, the CCG spokesperson, claimed that one of the Philippine vessels "dangerously" approached and collided with their ship, and that responsibility "lies entirely" with the Philippine side. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has refused to recognize the decision. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
24-05-2025
- GMA Network
WPS research missions won't stop despite China aggression — BFAR
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
GMA Network
24-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
China says US should stop using PH to make trouble as PH reiterates sovereignty
China Coast Guard vessel 21559 fires water cannon and sideswipes a BFAR vessel in Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) in the West Philippine Sea on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Screengrab from Philippine Coast Guard video China on Friday urged the US to refrain from using the Philippines to create trouble as the Philippines reiterated its sovereignty over Pag-asa island and all of its cays. In a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said: "We advise the U.S. side not to use the Philippines to stir up trouble in the South China Sea, and not to undermine peace and stability in the region." GMA News Online (GNO) contacted the US Embassy but it said it has no comment about the statement from Beijing. The embassy referred GNO to the US State Department and the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) instead. GNO then contacted the DFA for comment but it has yet to receive a statement as of posting time. Mao's statement came in light of an X post by US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, who condemned China's aggressive actions against Philippine research vessels. 'The China Coast Guard's aggressive actions against a lawful [Philippine] civilian mission near Sandy Cay recklessly endangered lives and threaten regional stability. We stand with our [Filipino] allies in support of international law and a Free and Open Indo-Pacific,' Carlson said Thursday. Earlier on Thursday, a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship reportedly fired water cannon and sideswiped a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel in Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). In a statement, BFAR said its 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. 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. China however claimed that the Philippines was illegally sending people to Tiexian Jiao, its term for Sandy Cay, which it said was part of Nansha Qundao or the Spratly Islands. The CCG on Thursday said it took "control measures" against Philippine ships and confirmed a collision occurred between the two sides' vessels. 'China Coast Guard has released a statement and on-site video footage on the incident. The facts speak for themselves… That severely infringes on China's sovereignty, and violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,' Mao said. China insisted that their actions were fully necessary, legitimate, and lawful. 'The Philippines needs to immediately stop its infringement activities and provocations. Otherwise, China will make a resolute response,' Mao Ning said. In response, the National Maritime Council condemned the actions and reiterated that the Philippines had longstanding sovereignty and jurisdiction over Pag-asa island and all of its cays. "These deliberate acts of interference and intimidation seriously violate the sovereignty of the Philippines and constitute a grave violation of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the relevant domestic laws,' the NMC said in a statement on Friday. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has refused to recognize the decision. —with a report from Reuters/KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
23-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Atin Ito civilian mission to proceed despite Sandy Cay incident
Atin Ito Coalition on Friday said its civilian-led mission to the West Philippine Sea from May 26 to 30 will continue despite the recent aggression of Chinese vessels in Sandy Cay. 'We proceed as planned, and we hope to conduct our musical event, ideally and safely within the vicinity of Pagasa Island. Ang dala natin ay kapayapaan sa pamamagitan ng musika, hindi lenguwahe ng giyera,' Atin Ito Coalition convenor Rafaela David said in a statement. (What we bring is peace through music, not the language of war.) 'What happened yesterday at Sandy Cay all the more highlights the need for this civilian-led mission in the WPS, and to impress upon China that Filipinos and citizens of other nations want peace in the region,' she added. David noted that the coalition also prioritizes the safety of the volunteers so necessary contingency measures are in place. A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship reportedly fired water cannon and sideswiped a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel in Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) in the WPS on Thursday. BFAR said its BRP Datu Sanday and BRP Datu Pagbuaya were on a routine mission with a scientific team to collect sand samples in the area. 'At approximately 0913H, CCG vessel 21559 water cannoned and sideswiped the BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) twice, resulting in some damage to the latter's port bow and smokestack, and putting at risk lives of its civilian personnel onboard,' BFAR said. 'This incident marks the first time water cannons have been used against DA-BFAR research vessels in the area of the Pag-Asa Cays,' it added. CCG said that it took "control measures" against the Philippine vessels which it said "illegally intruded" into waters near Subi Reef and Sandy Cay. Liu Dejun, the CCG spokesperson, claimed that one of the Philippine vessels "dangerously" approached and collided with their ship and that responsibility "lies entirely" with the Philippine side. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has refused to recognize the decision. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
23-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Romualdez to foreign lawmakers: PH remains steadfast in protecting sovereignty in WPS
Speaker Martin Romualdez of Leyte touted the Philippines' readiness to defend its sovereign rights within its waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) before lawmakers from different countries of the world. Romualdez made the speech during the 29th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum (PI-SF) held in Spain on Thursday afternoon (Manila time). Romualdez cited the Philippines' commitment to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award issued by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration which upheld the Philippines' 200 nautical miles off territorial sea EEZ in West Philippine Sea and rejected China's sweeping nine-dash claims in the area. 'Let me be clear: the Philippines remains steadfast in protecting our rights and entitlements in the West Philippine Sea by upholding international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award. We categorically reject attempts to undermine our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction through coercion or disinformation,' Romualdez said. 'Our approach is anchored on legal clarity, diplomatic dialogue, leveraging partnerships, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. We will not allow foreign narratives to distort the truth on the ground. Nor will we permit coercive actions to dictate our national destiny,' he added. Rule of Law The Speaker's remarks came in the aftermath of the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) report on Thursday that a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship fired water cannon and sideswiped a Philippine BFAR vessel in Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) in the West Philippine Sea where the BFAR vessel is conducting a marine scientific research initiative. The said area is within the Philippines' EEZ. Prior to the BFAR incident, Chinese Coast Guard vessels had also used water cannons against Philippine supply boats in several incidents and conducted dangerous blocking maneuvers near Ayungin Shoal, as well as swarmed Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, which were all condemned by Philippine officials and international observers. 'These are not isolated incidents. This is not just a regional issue. It is a global test of whether the rule of law will prevail over brute force,' Romualdez added. The Speaker then called on the Philippines' fellow democratic nations to remain vigilant and united against gray-zone tactics, cyber-enabled propaganda, and the creeping erosion of maritime law and order. 'We serve not only as lawmakers but as standard-bearers of the democratic rule of law. In an age when misinformation, cyberattacks, and technological disruption threaten the very fabric of our societies, the need for vigilance and unity among democracies has never been greater,' Romualdez said. 'Forums like the PI-SF allow us to expand these initiatives globally. Here, we are not merely exchanging intelligence — we are building solidarity, mutual understanding, and the legislative muscle to defend freedom and prosperity in this rapidly shifting world,' Romualdez added. Hosted by the Spanish Senate and chaired by former US lawmaker Robert Pittenger of North Carolina, the 29th PI-SF convened over 40 nations to align strategies on countering global threats. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
