AFP demands P60M in damages from China for June 17 Ayungin incident

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is demanding P60 million in damages from China after its coast guard destroyed some equipment of Filipino Navy personnel during a resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal last June 17.

“Sinira nila ;yung ating mga kagamitan (They destroyed our equipment) and when we estimated the cost of the damage, it's P60 million,” AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said in a press briefing after a command conference with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday.

“So we are demanding that China pay P60 million for the damage that they caused during [that incident],” he added.

Brawner said he wrote to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. so his letter could be forwarded to the Department of Foreign Affairs, which will reach out to its counterparts in China.

He noted the amount does not cover the cost of the firearms that the Chinese personnel seized from them.

According to Brawner, the AFP also wants China to shoulder the expenses on the reconstruction of the hand of the Filipino Navy officer who lost his thumb due to the incident.

“We are also looking into the possibility of charging them with the cost of restructuring the hand of [Seaman First Class Jeffrey Facundo] kasi ooperahan po siya para bumalik 'yung function ng kaniyang kamay,” he said. 

(We are also looking into the possibility of charging them with the cost of restructuring the hand of Seaman First Class Jeffrey Facundo because he will undergo surgery to restore the function of his hand.)

“Meron po kasing mga medical technology ngayon na bago nang sa gayun ay magamit niya ulit 'yung kaniyang kanang kamay,” he added.

(There are new medical technology that could allow him to use his right hand again.)

During the command conference, Brawner said the AFP suggested to Marcos some options for the Philippines’ next actions following the June 17 incident in Ayungin.

However, Brawner said he cannot divulge the information yet.

“We have presented to our President several options that the AFP will be doing not just in terms of performing our rotation and resupply missions but including the other operations in the WPS,” he said.

Brawner said concerned agencies as well as fishermen are involved in the recommended measures.

The AFP chief said that in the next rotation and resupply mission for the troops in BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, they will not allow Chinese personnel to bully Filipino personnel again.

“Noong sinabi kong lalaban tayo, ang ibig sabihin ko po doon, hindi natin hahayaan na basta na lang i-bully tayo ng ganun katulad ng nakaraan nga. Of course, may mga dalang armas nga 'yung ating mga katunggali. But in the next RoRe, basta hindi po tayo papayag na basta na lang apihin,” he said.

(When I said we will fight, I meant that we will not let them just bully us like they did in the past. Of course, our adversaries have weapons. But in the next RoRe, we will not allow them to bully us.)

In an ambush interview, Brawner said, “We will make sure they (Filipino troops) will be able to defend themselves.”

Consequences 

In response to the demand by the Philippines, China said that Manila “should face the consequences of its own action.”

“The Philippine vessels were carrying out an illegal ‘resupply mission’ which violated China’s territorial waters and staging a provocation when stopped by China Coast Guard,” said China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning in a press conference.

“We urge the Philippines to stop the infringement activities and provocations, and return to the right track of properly handling differences through dialogue and consultation,” she added. —AOL/RF, GMA Integrated News