West PH Sea: CCG must be held accountable for ‘unprovoked attacks’ – Estrada

Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada during the weekly Kapihan sa Senado forum on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada wants the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) to answer for all its “unprovoked attacks” in the West Philippine Sea.

On Tuesday, CCG ships again used water cannons against two Philippine civilian boats conducting a resupply mission to Filipino fishermen in Scarborough Shoal.

Estrada called this latest incident a “blatant violation of our sovereign rights and rules-based international order, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).”

READ: Sen. Estrada curses at China’s aggression in West Philippine Sea

“Hindi natin palalampasin ang mga pagmamalabis at hindi makataong pagtrato sa atin ng CCG,” he then said in a statement.

(We will not let these abuses and inhumane treatment of the CCG pass)

“We must hold the CCG accountable for all of its unprovoked attacks. The safety of our government personnel and the sovereignty of our country are non-negotiable,” Estrada continued.

READ: China uses water cannons again to deter PH resupply ops in Scarborough

The senator also called on the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy “to increase the frequency of patrols in the West Philippine Sea to ensure the safety of our people and the security of our waters.”

In a statement on Tuesday, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reported that its BRP Datu Cabaylo and BRP Datu Sanday were hit by water cannons by the Chinese ships.

But the Chinese ships missed their targets, allowing the BFAR boats to continue with their mission.

“Notwithstanding the dangerous maneuvers and opening of water cannons, both BFAR vessels were able to resupply the Filipino fisherfolk in the vicinity of Bao de Masinloc,” according to BFAR.