The spokesperson of the National Maritime Council (NMC) on Tuesday said the China Coast Guard was “ridiculous” in ramming Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels in a recent incident in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“It is actually a code of conduct among seafarers (that) the principle behind it is to ensure safety among vessels of the high seas especially,” NMC spokesman Undersecretary Alexander Lopez said in an ambush interview in Malacañang on Tuesday.

Lopez, a retired Vice Admiral and Commander of the Western Command,  said it was China’s coast guard vessels that rammed the two PCG vessels early Monday, Aug. 19.

“Like what happened is sila pa yun … went to (the) extreme of putting (their) vessels at risk. That’s ridiculous on their part. Coast Guard nga sila, dapat sila yun nag ensure ng safety of life and property. And yet they are the ones doing it. It doesn’t make sense,” Lopez said.

The Philippines has accused the Chinese Coast Guard of performing “unlawful and aggressive maneuvers.”

Two PCG vessels sustained structural damages from colliding with Chinese Coast Guard ships during its supply mission to Patag and Lawak Islands in the waters near Escoda Shoal, according to a statement by Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea. | PND