Navy man who lost thumb in WPS gets medal

The Philippine Navy sailor who lost a thumb in the recent encounter with China in Ayungin Shoal was awarded the Wounded Personnel Medal.

According to Joseph Morong’s report on Wednesday’s 24 Oras,  Seaman First Class Underwater Operator Jeffrey Facundo is a member of the elite Naval Special Operations Group (NAVSOG) who lost the thumb of his right hand following a collision of a Filipino watercraft with a Chinese vessel in the waters adjacent to Ayungin Shoal on Monday morning, June 17.

“Pumatong ‘yung forward portion ng China Coast Guard rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) sa tropa natin and unfortunately, nakahawak yung tropa dun so nadaanan yung kamay nya, yung daliri niya. Because of the weight at dahil sa bilis ng RHIB ng Chinese Coast Guard, tinamaan yung daliri nya, buti nga hindi buong kamay niya eh,” said AFP Western Command Commander Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr.

(The forward portion of the China Coast Guard’s rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) landed on our serviceman and unfortunately, his hand was caught. Because of the weight and because of the speed of the Chinese Coast Guard's RHIB, his thumb was severed, fortunately not his whole hand.)

AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. personally awarded the medal to Facundo, who is recuperating in a medical facility in Palawan.

Despite his injury, Facundo said he does not mind being re-deployed to Ayungin Shoal.

“Kahit saan sir, basta may order tayo,” he said.

(Anywhere, sir, as long as I am ordered.)

However, according to a separate 24 Oras report of Jun Veneracion, security analyst Dr. Chester Cabalza said the incident is not yet considered an act of war.

“Wala pa doon ‘yung mga elemento na hinahanap natin para ma-trigger and Mutual Defense Treaty. Ito kasi, accidental. ‘Yung nangyari doon sa pagkaputol sa daliri ng ating sundalo ay hindi pa mako-consider na act of war,” Cabalza said.

(The elements that we are looking for to trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty are not there. This is accidental. What happened  with the dismembering of our serviceman's finger cannot be considered an act of war.)

 Cabalza noted the Philippines must be prepared for other possible actions by China.

“Ang nakakatakot na scenario na pwede nilang gawin ay ‘yung mag-board sila sa BRP Sierra Madre.

(The scary scenario they could do is to board BRP Sierra Madre.)

In a video, several CCG watercraft surrounded and boarded the Filipino RHIB.

The incident occurred within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines but Chinese forces insist that they needed to make the inspection, claiming they were in their territory.

According to the AFP, the Chinese were carrying knives and machetes.

Brawner said he wants to remove the impression that Filipino troops merely stood by, stressing that they fought "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,” Brawner said.

(We saw in the video how the Chinese even threatened our personnel by pointing their knives… Despite this, our soldiers fought. They fought with their bare hands.)

Brawner added the AFP is demanding that China return the seven firearms and equipment they took as well as to pay for the damages they incurred.

The military said the Chinese punched holes on the RHIB and damaged the engines navigational equipment. They also stole the mobile phones of the Filipino personnel.

AFP Western Command head Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr. said it was his idea to attempt the new approach to resupply the military detachment in the Ayungin Shoal.

"It was my idea. It's actually operational matters. As far as the schedule and the conduct of the operations I am taking responsibility of that," Torres said.

The AFP has maintained that the regulation the CCG is implementing against the "trespassers" in the waters they are claiming is illegal.—Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News