A CHINESE Navy helicopter harassed Filipino fishermen at a reef in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea on Wednesday and Thursday last week, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday.
A few days after the incident, two PCG vessels out to respond to the incident were also harassed by a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel, said PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela.
In a press briefing, Tarriela said the helicopter from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, with tail number 45, hovered about 15 to 18 feet above the fishing boats at Rozul Reef, also known as Iroquois Reef.
Tarriela said the 20 fishing boats were grouped in four to five. He said the helicopter flew above each group for about 10 to 15 minutes last Wednesday.
“On November 28, they (Chinese) did the same harassment (against the Filipino fishermen)” said Tarriela.
“You can just imagine that our Filipino fishermen are having a hard time due to big waves in the West Philippine Sea and there is also a chopper that has a force, pushing you down. So that’s very dangerous. Luckily, no Filipino fisherman was hurt during the harassment of China,” he said.
Tarriela said it was not the first time a Chinese helicopter hovered over Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea. However, he said, it was “the first time we saw a PLA harassing a Filipino fisherman with such low altitude, 15 to 18 feet.”
After learning the incident, Tarriela said, PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered the deployment of two PCG vessels, BRP Melchora Aquino and (BRP Cape Engaño, to the area.
While on the way to Rozul Reef, from Buliluyan Port in Palawan, Tarriela said the PCG vessels experienced dangerous maneuvers from a CCG vessel at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday.
He said the harassment occurred while the PCG vessels were passing in the area of Escoda Shoal, also known as Sabina Shoal.
Tarriela said PCG vessels arrived at Rozul Reef last Sunday.
“Originally, there were 20 Filipino fishing boats that went to Rozul. Unfortunately, big waves battered two of the boats (on November 30),” he said.
He also said the Chinese vessels in the area did not offer any help to save the Filipino fishermen on board the sunken boats. He said the fishermen were rescued by other Filipino fishermen.
Tarriela one of the CCG vessels ironically offered to assist the distressed fishermen only last Saturday.
“I don’t know how they want to play the script because the sinking (of the boats) occurred last November 30 and their offer to the Coast Guard is December 1,” said Tarriela.
“It means they just want to make it appear that they are extending assistance. But as what the fishermen said, not a single attempt on the part of the Chinese Coast was extended to rescue our fishermen,” he said.
Tarriela said BRP Cape Engaño left the reef later on Sunday and arrived in mainland Palawan yesterday while BRP Melchora Aquino is still in the area doing patrols and “guiding” Filipino fishermen.
