No Filipino coast guard crew or personnel were injured in Saturday’s collision with a China Coast Guard vessel that rammed the BRP Teresa Magbanua of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Escoda Shoal.

“Based on the conversation of the (PCG) Commandant Gil Gavan to the commanding officer of MRV 9701 (Magbanua), there were no reported injured personnel of BRP Teresa Magbanua,” PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a media briefing.

According to Tarriela, a China coast guard vessel began striking the Magbanua several times around 8:50 a.m. when the PCG vessel had heaved its anchor to loiter around Escoda Shoal.

The Philippine vessel was then surrounded by Chinese maritime forces, including two Chinese Navy tugboats, vessels 175 and 185; China Coast Guard vessels 4301 and 3104; and Chinese maritime militia.

“One of the Chinese coast guard vessels, upon learning that we are heaving in our anchor, they (blew) their horn. And then, all of a sudden, there is another China Coast Guard vessel that is also approaching and getting near MRRV-9701 – that is China Coast Guard vessel 5205,” Tarriela said.

At around 12:07 p.m., when the PCG vessel was “already on the move,” CCG 5205 “carried out a dangerous maneuver, resulting in a direct ramming of the port bow of MRRV-9701 (Magbanua).”

“Obviously, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5202 has ignored collision regulation because of such action,” he said.

Tarriela stated that the China Coast Guard vessel deliberately rammed the Magbanua several times, damaging the PCG vessel’s bridge wing and freeboard.

He added that the PCG did not provoke the CCG in any way, yet they still continued to hit the Magbanua.

“It is important for us to take note that this ramming happened despite our unprovoked action and presence in Escoda Shoal. The Philippine Coast guard vessel did not provoke or did not do anything while we were loitering in Escoda Shoal but the Chinese Coast guard carried out dangerous maneuvers despite being unprovoked,” he said. PND