Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17660360231081766036021684.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Philippine Coast Guard rescue Filipino fishermen who were harassed by Chinese vessels at Escoda Shoal. <em>Handout/PCG</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reiterated its commitment to protect Filipinos and uphold the country’s maritime rights following the December 12 incident near Escoda or Sabina Shoal, where Chinese maritime forces used water cannon and conducted coercive actions against local fishermen.</p><p>Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the military is carrying out President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure the safety of Filipino fisherfolk, in close coordination with civilian maritime agencies.</p><p>“Every guidance of the Commander-in-Chief is for all appropriate government agencies to implement. Along this line, the AFP will continue performing its mandate of security and integrity of our country,&quot; Trinidad told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Thursday.</p><p>&quot;Secondly, of exerting support to the PCG (Philippine Coast Guard), BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) and other government agencies in protecting the livelihood of our fisherfolk,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/15/3-fishermen-injured-in-chinese-water-cannon-attack-in-better-condition-nmc-1447">3 fishermen injured in Chinese water cannon attack &#x27;in better condition&#x27;: NMC</a></div><p>The AFP will also continue engaging &quot;like-minded nations&quot; who support the Philippines&#x27; stand of a rules-based international order in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>The official placed the incident in a broader operational context, noting that Chinese maritime forces tend to change their behavior when the Philippines’ ally and partner nations are present.</p><p>“The bigger picture was three days before that, there was a bilateral maritime cooperative activity between the Philippine Navy, the AFP, and the United States Navy. In Bajo de Masinloc, there was a freedom of navigation operation unilateral by the US Navy. There were continued patrols in our nine features of the West Philippine Sea,” Trinidad noted.</p><p>“Historically, our data will tell us that when there are foreign counterparts and partners, the PLA (People&#x27;s Liberation Army) Navy, the CCG (China Coast Guard) and the maritime militia have a change in their behavior. It so happened that in Sabina or Escoda Shoal, there [were] no foreign presence and Philippine Navy there. Kung saan tayo wala, doon sila gumawa ng aggressive actions against our Filipino fisherfolk,” he explained.</p><p>Three Filipino fishermen were injured after being directly hit by the CCG’s high-pressure water cannon. Two fishing boats were also severely damaged in the incident.</p><p>The PCG was able to respond immediately, dispatching two vessels to assist the fishermen and provide medical aid.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NO LONGER ‘GRAY ZONE’ ACTIVITIES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>AFP chief-of-staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. stressed that China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea are no longer described as “gray zone” activities.</p><p>“In our approach to the ICAD activities, China is doing—hindi na gray zone ang tawag natin diyan. Tinatawag natin ang activities nila according to what they really are: illegal, coercive, aggressive, deceptive,” Brawner said in a separate interview.</p><p>He emphasized that the government’s response remains anchored on a whole-of-nation approach involving the AFP, PCG, and BFAR.</p><p>“Isa sa mga layunin natin is to ensure that our fisherfolk are safe as they go out there na gawin ang activities nila. Tuluy-tuloy naman ang ginagawa nating activities, pero alam na namin ang respective roles namin. The Philippine Navy, PCG and BFAR have roles to play,” Brawner explained.</p><p>He went on, “Every time na naglalayag ang fisherfolk natin, ang kasunod nila ay BFAR. Sila ang nagbibigay ng pagkain, tubig at gasolina sa ating fisherfolk. Susunod doon yung PCG, nakapalibot iyan. But not far behind, not far away is the Philippine Navy. Hindi po natin pwedeng sabihin na wala ang Navy diyan.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘WE NEED A STRONGER AFP’</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Trinidad underscored that the December 12 incident highlights the need to further strengthen the AFP to sustain maritime patrols and to support civilian agencies in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>“Not only to support the PCG and the BFAR in securing our fisherfolk. We need a stronger AFP. I would like to highlight the statement of our Secretary of National Defense: The strength of the defense department and the AFP is one for a country whose population was approximately 90 to 95 million. We have now increased in population. The dynamics in defense and security has changed. Technology is now a great enabler of any foreign adversary. We need a stronger AFP to be able to perform our mandate,” Trinidad stressed.</p><p>“Not only ships but the overall posture of the AFP. That will include command and control, cyber, land, air, and sea forces.”</p><p>The official added that the AFP has increased patrols—not only in the West Philippine Sea, but also in the country’s northern islands—following the implementation of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC).</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘FACTS CANNOT BE DISTORTED’</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The Department of National Defense (DND), for its part, reiterated that the facts surrounding the water cannon incident are well-documented and cannot be distorted.</p><p>“Filipino fishermen were injured, their boats damaged, and their safety deliberately endangered by water cannons, blocking maneuvers, and the cutting of anchor lines. The facts are not distorted. They are documented, timestamped, and corroborated by video recordings, vessel logs, and on-site reporting by the PCG,” the DND said in a statement on Thursday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/16/teodoro-condemns-dangerous-inhumane-actions-of-chinese-forces-vs-filipino-fishers-1205">Teodoro condemns ‘dangerous, inhumane’ actions of Chinese forces vs Filipino fishers</a></div><p>“The Philippines is not hyping the issue; the facts speak for themselves. These are aggressive, excessive, and dangerous actions of an encroaching state,” it added.</p><p>The DND noted that the CCG has publicly acknowledged implementing what it called “control measures,” which the department said “confirms their interference with civilian fishing boats and PCG vessels providing aid to injured civilians.”</p><p>“No amount of rhetorical reframing changes the reality that ordinary fishermen were harmed while fishing lawfully within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, and that the CCG deliberately disrupted our humanitarian efforts,” the DND said.</p><p>“The Philippines rejects the erroneous notion that reckless conduct at sea constitutes ‘effective measures,’” it continued. “They do not safeguard stability. They undermine it.”</p><p>Despite Beijing’s “constant bullying, prevarication, and so-called effective measures,” the DND assured that the government will continue to protect its people, uphold international law, and assert its rights “calmly, professionally and transparently.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WATCH</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gFWwlAdpT7E?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Armed Forces of the Philippines said the December 12 incident highlights the need to further strengthen the AFP to sustain maritime patrols and to support civilian agencies in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said the December 12 incident highlights the need to further strengthen the AFP to sustain maritime patrols and to support civilian agencies in the West Philippine Sea.

AFP vows continued protection for fishers after Escoda Shoal incident

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AFP vows continued protection for fishers after Escoda Shoal incident

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 18, 2025 02:02 PM PHT

Read More:

Water Cannon

China Coast Guard

Filipino Fishermen

Escoda Shoal

Sabina Shoal

Philippine Navy

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Department of National Defense

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