PH mulls filing case vs. China over collision incident in WPS

The Philippine government is considering filing a case against China in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in response to the October 22 collision of Filipino and Chinese vessels, an official of the National Security Council (NSC) said Tuesday.

“Madaming (There are many) options that are in the table right now. We can file a case in the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea,” said NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya in an interview on Dobol B TV.

“It will have to be decided by the Cabinet cluster and the President himself. So, antayin po natin kung ano ang magiging tugon ng ating Gabinete diyan,” he added.'

(So we'll just have to wait and see what the Cabinet says.)

Malaya, who is also the spokesperson of the National Task Force West Philippines Sea (NTF WPS), pointed out that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have already reported that China indeed committed collision regulation violations.

“Kasi yesterday, it was made clear to us by the DFA and PCG na mayroong mga violations of the collision regulations ang China dito sa nangyaring ito. So mayroon din tayong recourse doon,” he added.

(Because yesterday, it was made clear to us by the DFA and PCG that China committed violations of collision regulations. So we also have a recourse on that.)

Marcos called for a command conference on Monday to discuss China's latest violation in the area.

Philippine government officials said the collision occurred when two Filipino supply boats escorted by two PCG vessels were heading to Ayungin Shoal.

The Filipino boats were about to deliver food and other supplies to the grounded Philippine warship BRP Sierra Madre for the small Navy personnel there who were guarding the shoal.

Ayungin Shoal is located 105.77 nautical miles from the nearest Philippine province of Palawan and constitutes part of the country's 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf as provided under a United Nations convention.

The DFA has also summoned Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian over the incident.

In response, Chinese Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong said he conveyed "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition of the Chinese side to the Philippine side over its vessels’ intrusion over its so-called waters."

Zhou maintained that Ayungin Shoal, which he referred to as  Ren’ai Jiao, "is part of China’s Nansha Qundao and China’s territory."

The PCG has already launched an investigation into the incident and said it will finish its probe in five days. 

"We will focus in determining the extent of damage or damages done or incurred by the vessels involved. But at this point, it is very, very clear that the two incidents are violations of collision regulations, the very regulation that we, Coast Guard, are expected to enforce," said Philippine Coast Guard Rear Admiral Ronnie Gil Latorilla Gavan.

The incident was the first time Philippine officials reported that a Filipino resupply boat was rammed by a Chinese ship. No Filipino crew member was reported injured. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News