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

MANILA — The two Filipino fishermen injured in a boat engine explosion near Bajo de Masinloc said Monday they were infuriated over the China Coast Guard's (CCG) attempt to block the Philippine Coast Guard's rescue efforts over the weekend. 

"Salbahe ‘yang China na ‘yan eh," fisherman Rolando Lumapas told ABS-CBN News in an interview.

Lumapas and boat captain Freddie Legaspi sustained severe injuries during the explosion.

READ: Boat engine explosion injures 2 Filipino fishers near Bajo de Masinloc

They are recuperating at a hospital in Olongapo City, Zambales over second-degree burns all over their body.

Lumapas denied the Chinese state media Global Times report that claimed the CCG helped them after the engine blast.

"Balita nga sila pa tumulong sa amin eh, hindi naman eh. Dumating ‘yong barko natin ng Pilipinas, hinarang nila, ginigitngit pa nila eh,” he said.

READ: PCG denies China helped Filipino sailors injured near Bajo de Masinloc

Legaspi added the CCG blocked PCG’s BRP Sindangan efforts to rescue them.

He said he also overheard CCG’s warning that they would be arrested if they do not cooperate. 

“Ang sabi nila nga, kung sakaling makatulong ‘yong Chinese coast guard at lumapit ‘yong BRP Sindangan, ikukulong kami diretso,” Legaspi said. 

Videos released by the Global Times showed a Chinese coast guard vessel issuing a radio message that it was “organizing a rescue operation.”

It also showed the CCG deploying boats, throwing lifebuoys and life jackets to the sinking Filipino boat, and coordinating with the fishermen.

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the videos were staged, adding that the rescue was “not a walk in the park.”

“Nai-transfer na natin ‘ong dalawang Pilipinong mangingisda gamit ‘yong service boat. So, in short, wala naman na sila talagang kukunin na mga ibang tao,” he told Teleradyo Serbisyo.

Legaspi said the CCG even tailed the PCG vessel after they were rescued.

“Humahabol ‘yong Chinese Coast Guard tapos pinapalayo siya,” he said. “Sinundan pa rin po kami nu’ng nandu’n na kami nakasakay.”

Dr. Oliver Nico Macaspac, general surgeon of James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital, said the patients remain in critical condition.

“Nagpalala po ang hindi agad nila pagpunta sa ospital. Mas mainam po lalo na sa mga burned patient ay sa lalong madaling panahon po ay makapunta sa ospital,” he said.

Meanwhile, fisherfolk group PAMALAKAYA has slammed China's actions, calling them unacceptable.

"Mariin nating kinokondena at hindi katanggap-tanggap ang aksyon ng Chinese Coast Guard sa kabila ng aksidenteng sumabog ang bangka ng mga Pilipino na kailangan ng tulong, hinarangan pa nila yung pagtulong," said PAMALAKAYA Chairperson Fernando Hicap at the sidelines of a protest on Monday.

[We strongly condemn the unacceptable actions of the Chinese Coast Guard. Despite the accident, China blocked the rescue.]

Hicap said China should be held accountable for their despicable actions.

"Malinaw na ito ay violation, violation nila ito sa pananatili nila sa ating Exclusive Economic Zone, ito'y bahagi ng EEZ, violation pa ito ng ating human rights," he said. "Malinaw na ito'y hindi makatao at dapat itong kondenahin at dapat pinapanagot itong mga Chinese Coast Guard."

[This is a clear violation. They have violations for staying in our Exclusive Economic Zone, and they have also violated our human rights. This is not humane. We should condemn this incident and hold the CCG accountable.]

Bajo de Masinloc, also called Panatag and Scarborough Shoal, has been a potential flashpoint since Beijing seized it from Manila in 2012.

The fish-rich reef lies about 240 kilometers west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometers from Hainan, the nearest major Chinese land mass. -- with a report from Jervis Manahan, ABS-CBN News