Kinumpirma ng National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) nitong Linggo, Oktubre 22, na bumangga ang barko ng China Coast Guard (CCG) sa Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-contracted indigenous resupply boat na Unaiza May 2 (UM2) na nagsasagawa umano ng rotation and resupply (RORE) mission sa BRP Sierra Madre na bahagi ng Ayungin Shoal.
Sa isang pahayag ng NTF-WPS, ibinahagi nito na nangyari ang “dangerous blocking maneuvers” ng CCG vessel 5203 (CCGV 5203) dakong 6:04 ng umaga sa UM2 ng AFP, humigit-kumulang 13.5 nautical miles (NM) ang layo sa East Northeast ng BRP Sierra Madre.
“The provocative, irresponsible, and illegal action of CCGV 5203 imperiled the safety of the crew of UM2,” pahayag ng NTF-WPS.
Hindi pa naman idinetalye ng ahensya ang naging pinsala ng naturang insidente at ang lagay ng mga nakasakay sa naturang supply boat.
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Samantala, sinabi ng NTF-WPS na sa parehong RORE mission, bumangga rin umano ang Chinese Maritime Militia vessel 00003 (CMMV 00003) sa port side ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) na MRRV 4409 habang nasa humigit-kumulang 6.4NM Northeast ito ng Ayungin Shoal.
“The RORE mission is still ongoing, with Unaiza May 1 (UM1) reaching BRP SIERRA MADRE to successfully resupply our troops and personnel stationed there,” saad ng ahensya.
Mariing kinondena ng NTF-WPS ang naturang “mapanganib” at “iligal” umanong aksyon ng CCG at Chinese Maritime Militia.
“NTF-WPS condemns in the strongest degree the latest dangerous, irresponsible, and illegal actions of the CCG and the Chinese Maritime Militia done this morning, in violation of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction and in utter blatant disregard of the United Nations Charter, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and relevant international maritime conventions, and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” saad ng NTF-WPS.
