HOLE IN THE DECK. The hole in the deck of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship BRP Bagacay caused by dangerous maneuvers of China Coast Guard (CCG) ships that resulted in a collision on Aug. 19, 2024. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said Thursday (Aug. 22, 2024) that China’s constant harassment and bullying of Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea is "uncivilized and shameless." (Photo courtesy of PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela)
MANILA – China’s constant harassment and bullying of Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is "uncivilized and shameless," Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said Thursday.
Estrada made the statement when asked for a reaction on the two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships that were heavily damaged after colliding with Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels near Escoda Shoal, only 139 km. from the Palawan coast.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said the PCG’s BRP Bagacay (MRRV-4410) and BRP Cape Engaño (MRRV-4411) were damaged after they were harassed and rammed by CCG vessels while en route to Patag and Lawak Islands near Escoda Shoal on Aug. 19.
"Ang problema dito sa China, hindi sila civilized (The problem with China is that they are uncivilized). They have to act in a civilized manner, mukha na silang (They are already looking) uncivilized," Estrada said during the Kapihan sa Senado.
"Nakikipag-usap sila (sa atin), eh iba naman yung ginagawa nila. Walang hiya talaga (They talk with us but their actions are different. They are shameless)."
He also reiterated that China’s claim over the WPS is "invalid, illegal, and has no basis whatsoever."
Estrada, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation, also defended the Philippines for seeking assistance from its allies in ensuring peace and order in its territory.
"Natural lang yun (That's just natural). We are a third-world country. We are a small country. We are not mightier as compared to China. Natural lang na (It's only natural that) we have to ally with these countries," he said.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino earlier urged the National Security Council to demand compensation from the People's Republic of China for the damage sustained by the two PCG patrol vessels, citing the incident as "unacceptable."
Wanton disregard for int’l norms
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., meanwhile, said China’s acts of destruction of ecosystems in the WPS shows its disregard for international norms.
"On my end, it just goes to show you a pattern or a mindset of disregard for international norms by the government of China so it is another piece of evidence that the world should know and it adds to the pile up of violations that they that so far committed not only in the WPS but in other areas," he said in a press conference at the launch of the Philippines' hosting of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
Teodoro added these actions show that China’s version of international law is a “perverted one”.
"(It's) sad to say but it is what it is," the defense chief said.
Last month, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said China is aware of its fishers' destructive acts of harvesting endangered sea turtles, coral, and giant clams on a substantial scale in WPS.
However, it said Beijing did not do anything to stop these methods that have inflicted severe damage on the coral reef environment in these waters. (with Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
