PCG did not receive distress call about Recto Bank incident, spokesman says

The Philippine Coast Guard did not receive a distress call after a Chinese vessel rammed a Filipino fishing boat in Recto Bank (Reed Bank) on June 9, PCG spokesperson Captain Armand Balilo said on Sunday.

"Wala po (kaming natanggap na distress call). Nalaman lang po namin ang pangyayari sa pagtatagpo, sa coordination natin sa task force on the West Philippine Sea at saka sa mga report na natanggap namin mula sa kaanak ng mga fishermen," Balilo said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Balilo said the PCG responds right away whenever it receives a distress call.

"Ito pong particular na ito, wala tayong natanggap kaagad na tawag na sila ay ma-rescue," he said.

Twenty-two fishermen were left to fend for themselves in the sea after a Chinese vessel rammed into their boat, the F/B Gem-Ver, on June 9. They were eventually rescued by a Vietnamese vessel.

The Chinese Embassy admitted that a Chinese vessel, the Yuemaobinyu 42212, was involved in the incident, but that it was "berthed" when seven or eight Filipino fishing boats "besieged" it. It added that the vessel's steel cable on the lightning grid of the larboard bumped into a Filipino boat which then tilted.

"The Chinese captain tried to rescue the Filipino fishermen, but was afraid of being besieged by other Filipino fishing boats," it added. The vessel then left the scene after confirming that the fishermen were rescued.

The Filipino fishermen, however, believe the Chinese vessel intentionally rammed their boat.

The Philippines has already filed a diplomatic protest.

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said it is "highly likely that a Chinese maritime militia vessel rammed the Filipino fishing vessel" in Recto Bank as "China’s maritime militia vessels have reinforced steel hulls purposely for ramming fishing vessels of other coastal states. No other coastal state has fishing vessels purposely designed for ramming other fishing vessels."

Balilo admitted that it is hard to monitor the country's vast coastline even with the joint assets of the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard.

"Napakahirap bantayan dahil napakalaki ng coastline," he said.

However, the PCG does what it can to fulfill its mandate to secure the Philippine waters.

"Lahat pinagsisikapan na kahit papaano, kung ano ang mayroon tayo ay ginagamit natin (sa pag-monitor)," Balilo said.

The PCG has 10 vessels from Japan and another one from France, and these are utilized to guard the seas, he added.

Capt. Balilo: May 10 bagong barko po tayo galing Japan, may galing din po sa France. Reliable naman po ang mga ito. https://t.co/Jl7zdrja0g

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 16, 2019

Balilo said the PCG is also putting up radars and doing what it can to improve its service to the nation.

Capt. Balilo: May mga nagsisimula na pong itayong mga radar. https://t.co/Jl7zdrja0g

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 16, 2019

Capt. Balilo: Patuloy po ang pagpupursige ng PCG para ma-improve pa natin ang serbisyo natin sa ating mga kababayan. https://t.co/Jl7zdrja0g

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 16, 2019

 —KG, GMA News