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Two Filipino fishers were injured in an engine explosion near Bajo de Masinloc. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard

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Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div data-offset-key="4g715-0-0" id="isPasted"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1719794048297New Project (1).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Two Filipino fishers were injured in an engine explosion near Bajo de Masinloc. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard"/><span class="fr-inner"><div data-offset-key="4g715-0-0" id="isPasted"><span data-offset-key="4g715-0-0">Two Filipino fishers were injured in an engine explosion near Bajo de Masinloc. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard</span></div></span></span></span></div><div><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard on Monday said China obstructed the rescue of injured Filipino fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc, contrary to Beijing’s claims that it had lent a hand. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Videos released by Chinese state media show the Chinese coast guard (CCG) supposedly helping two Filipino fishermen who suffered second-degree burns following an engine explosion on their fishing boat. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">But PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the CCG and other maritime militia boats had blocked Filipino authorities as they approached Bajo de Masinloc.  </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The CCG also allegedly warned that they would arrest the fishermen if they did not cooperate.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Noong napansin nila na ang coast guard vessel is speeding our way papalapit ng Bajo de Masinloc, we were still subjected to blocking, dangerous maneuver and harassment. That’s why it took us longer to arrive dito sa lugar ng ating mga mangingisdang Pilipino,” he told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.  </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The PCG eventually “managed to outmaneuver the RHIBs and successfully transfer the injured fishermen for immediate first aid,” Tarriela said in a separate ABS-CBN News interview. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“They’re saying na sila daw mismo ay nag-alok na tumulong, sila raw mismo ay nag-assist sa pag-rescue. But that never really happened,” he added. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Videos released by Chinese state media Global Times showed a Chinese coast guard vessel issuing a radio message that it was “organizing a rescue operation.” </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">It also showed the CCG deploying boats, throwing lifebuoys and life jackets to the sinking Filipino boat, and coordinating with the fishermen.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Philippine side was heard saying over the radio, “China Coast Guard vessel 3105, thank you for your cooperation.”</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Balilo admitted the CCG offered help, but fishermen opted to take the PCG’s assistance. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Nag-offer sila ng help pero parang hindi na sila pumayag kasi alam nila parating na ‘yong Philippine Coast Guard,” Balilo said.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Tarriela said Global Times “struggled with editing their videos this time.”</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Otherwise, they could have uploaded their lies immediately before I even had a chance. Another proof that we rescued them is the photo showing that they boarded our ship, not the China CG ship,” he added. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The injured fishermen are recovering at a hospital, the official said. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Bajo de Masinloc, also called Panatag and Scarborough Shoal, has been a potential flashpoint since Beijing seized it from Manila in 2012.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The fish-rich reef lies about 240 kilometers west of the Philippines&#x27; main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometers from Hainan, the nearest major Chinese land mass.</span></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gfkZnLLtkw4" title="PCG denies China helped fishers from exploded boat | Gising Pilipinas (01 July 2024)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine Coast Guard on Monday said China obstructed the rescue of injured Filipino fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc, contrary to Beijing’s claims that it had lent a hand.</p>

The Philippine Coast Guard on Monday said China obstructed the rescue of injured Filipino fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc, contrary to Beijing’s claims that it had lent a hand.

PCG denies China helped Filipino sailors injured near Bajo de Masinloc

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PCG denies China helped Filipino sailors injured near Bajo de Masinloc

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 01, 2024 08:01 AM PHT

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Updated Jul 01, 2024 08:43 AM PHT

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