PH mulls filing case vs. China amid Escoda collision

The Philippine government will study the possibility of filing a case against China following the August 19 collision incident near the Escoda Shoal, National Maritime Council (NMC) spokesperson Alexander Lopez said Monday.

''We are looking at that especially the part of the Coast Guard kasi they know more... maybe we'll get back to you later on as we get more inputs from the Coast guard,'' Lopez said at a Palace press briefing.

Presidential Assistant on Maritime Concerns Secretary Andres Centino said that upon the creation of the NMC, three new members were added including the Solicitor General, the National Security Adviser, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) chief.

''That actually signifies the intent of the government to consider perhaps a filing of a case... the Solicitor General is tasked to do these things,'' Centino said.

Asked where the case could be filed, Centino said this includes United Nations bodies.

In a separate press statement, Lopez said Manila has urged Beijing to refrain from aggressive actions and adhere to international law as it expressed serious concern over China's latest actions. 

The Philippines has accused the Chinese Coast Guard of performing "unlawful and aggressive maneuvers" in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which resulted in collisions that damaged two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels.

China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu earlier claimed on social media platform Weibo that Philippine vessels BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engaño "deliberately" collided with a CCG vessel near Escoda Shoal.

Philippine authorities said the two vessels were about to deliver essential supplies to personnel stationed in Patag and Lawak Islands when the incident took place on Monday.  —VAL, GMA Integrated News