PCG completes probe on Ayungin Shoal incident

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THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has completed its investigation into the October 22 collisions between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.

In a radio interview, PCG commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan said the probe was completed on Friday, meeting a five-day deadline he announced after a command conference presided over by President Marcos Jr a day after the incident.

He said the investigation report is being reviewed by the Department of Transportation (DOTr). After the review, the report will be submitted to the Office of the President.

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Gavan declined to reveal the PCG’s findings, saying, “It’s better if we wait for its announcement (by higher authorities).”

He said the investigation report included some recommendations from the PCG.

Gavan surmised a recommendation from the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), of which the PCG is a member, will be considered by the government before the latter takes further actions on the incident.

“This is a sensitive issue so let’s wait for the recommendation of the entire group,” he said.

Asked when the report will be submitted to the President, Gavan just said, “Maybe after the elections (Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections today), there will be an announcement to our countrymen.”

The President ordered the PCG, during last Monday’s command conference, to look into the incident as the government is taking the incident seriously, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr has said. Gavan vowed the PCG will complete the probe in five days.

The NTF-WPS has said the result of the PCG investigation might be used in pursuing a case against China before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

On October 22, Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels made dangerous maneuvers against two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels and two military-contracted boats delivering supplies to Filipino troops at Ayungin Shoal.

One of the wooden supply boats, Unaiza Mae 2, and PCG vessel BRP Cabra were hit in the process by a China Coast Guard vessel and a China militia vessel during the maneuvers, causing damage to the Philippine vessels.

Officials have said the actions of the Chinese ships violated the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.

Philippine government officials have also accused China of other violations, including of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which grants the Philippines a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. Ayungin Shoal is about 108 nautical miles from Rizal, Palawan.

Gavan, who assumed the top PCG post just last October 19, said his instruction to PCG units is to step up patrols in the country’s waters, including in the West Philippine Sea.

On the deployment of larger PCG vessels to escort resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal, Gavan said, “That is among the considerations.”

“As we have said, we continue to plan and find better solutions,” he said.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said trading sharply worded statements with China in connection with its actions in the West Philippine Sea is “important” as it expresses the sentiment of the Filipino people.

However, he said, the problem should be solved in a “diplomatic” way.

Gatchalian said he supports PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela on his statements against a retired Chinese air force official who described the Philippines as “barbaric” when the PCG killed a Chinese fisherman in 2000 and another from an island in Taiwan in 2013.

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Gatchalian said Tarriela’s strongly worded statement serves as an “inspiration” and “strength” for Filipinos but might only aggravate the already heated situation.

“Diplomacy is still important. This word war will only worsen the situation and we would never find an end to this problem,” he said in Filipino in an interview with radio dzBB. — With Raymond Africa

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