NMC: PH sent 'serious concern' to China over Escoda collision incident

The Philippine government has sent a statement expressing serious concern to China over the August 19 collision incident near the Escoda Shoal, National Maritime Council spokesperson Alexander Lopez said Wednesday. 

“Actually, nakapagpadala na tayo ng statement of serious concern sa embahada ng Tsina dito sa Pilipinas at the same time nakapagpadala rin tayo to our embassy in Beijing expressing our serious concern on this event that happened,” Lopez said in an episode of the Malacañang Insider.

(Actually, we have sent a statement of serious concern to the Chinese Embassy here in the Philippines and to our embassy in Beijing expressing serious concern on this event that happened.) 

GMA News Online sought comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

Lopez earlier said the government would study the possibility of filing a case against China following the August 19 collision incident. 

To recall, 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.

In a separate interview with Palace reporters, Lopez said no one is buying China’s claim that the Filipino vessels rammed the CCG vessel. 

“Nobody buys, nobody is buying that narrative kasi ang kanilang audience basically is domestic samantalang tayo ay factual,” Lopez said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News