Naglabas ng mga larawan ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) na makikita na armado ng patalim at palakol ang ilang tauhan ng China Coast Guard at iniumang sa mga sundalong Pinoy na nagsasagawa ng routine rotation at resupply mission sa Ayungin Shoal noong Lunes.
Ipinakita rin ng AFP nitong Miuerkules ang larawan sa tinanong pinsala ng mga sasakyang pandagat na gamit ng mga sundalong Pinoy na sinira ng CCG.
"The China Coast Guard's coercive, aggressive, and barbaric actions during the humanitarian rotation and resupply mission at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal on June 17, resulted in severe damage to AFP vessels, including their communication and navigation equipment," ayon sa AFP.
"CCG personnel were also caught on camera while brandishing an assortment of bladed and pointed weapons threatening to injure AFP troops," dagdag nito.
"The core issue remains the illegal presence and activities of China within our jurisdiction. The continued hostile behavior of the CCG is what escalates tensions in the area," sabi pa ng AFP
Bago nito, sinabi ni AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. na mistulang "pirata" ang CCG sa ginawang panggigipit sa tropa ng mga sundalong Pinoy na papunta sa Ayungin Shoal sa West Philippine Sea.
"For me, this is piracy already, 'no? Piracy. Because they boarded our boats illegally. They got our equipment, 'no? Again... parang mga pirata na po sila doon sa mga ginawa nilang actions na 'yun,” ani Brawner.
Pitong sundalo ang nasaktan sa naturang insidente, at isa ang naputulan pa ng daliri.
Kahit walang sandata, sinabi ni Brawner na nakipaglaban ang mga sundalong Pinoy "with their bare hands."
“We saw in the video how the Chinese even threatened our personnel by pointing their knives… Despite this, lumaban po yung ating mga sundalo, 'no? Lumaban po with their bare hands,” giit niya. — may ulat mula kay Joseph Morong/FRJ, GMA Integrated News
