Ni Ven Marck Botin
NITONG ika-30 ng Hunyo, tumulong sa ‘naval operation’ ng Western Command (WesCom) Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ang dalawang (2) ssasakyang-pandagat ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Ayon kay Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson ng PCG para sa West Philippine Sea (WPS), inatasan ang kanilang ahensya na magsagawa ng ‘escorting’ sa operasyon ng AFP WESCOM upang tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng mga tauhan ng Western Command.
Sa kanilang paglalayag patungong Ayungin Shoal, ikinadismaya ng PCG ang naging ‘behavior’ ng Chinese Coast Guard vessels (CCGvs).
“It appears that the CCGVs are exerting additional effort to prevent the PCG from reaching Ayungin Shoal,” ani Tarriela.
Aniya, ito raw ay patunay sa agresibong pagkikilos ng Chinese Coast Guard Vessels habang papalapit ang sasakyang-pandahat ng PCG sa loob ng 12 nautical miles ng Ayungin Shoal.
“During the operation, the PCG was constantly followed, harassed, and obstructed by the significantly larger Chinese Coast Guard vessels at a distance of approximately 100 yards,” saad ni Tarriela.
“These CCGVs blatantly disregard the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) in their attempts to obstruct passage and discourage the PCG vessels from approaching Ayungin Shoal,” dagdag nito.
Aniya, “deeply concerned” din ang PCG matapos mamataan ang presensiya ng dalawang (2) People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-) vessels sa Ayungin Shoal.
Sinabi rin ni Tarriela na ito ay nakakalarma sapagkat ang ‘naval operation’ ng Philippine Navy ay’ solely humanitarian in nature’.
“Despite this, the Chinese have deployed their warships, raising even greater concerns,” pagbibigay-diin nito.
Aniya, naging matagumpay naman ang operasyon ng dalawang ahensya ng Pilipinas at ligtas namang nakabalik ang mga ito sa kanilang ‘respective areas of operation’.