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BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) and BRP Domingo Deluana (PG-905) sail during the simulated island seizure exercise as part of the AJEX DAGIT-PA 08-2024 on November 6, 2024 at Kota Island in the West Philippine Sea. Photo courtesy LTC SALGADO/PAOAFP

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

QUEZON CITY – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday rejected China’s claim that reports of cyanide use in Ayungin Shoal were fabricated, insisting its findings are backed by scientific evidence gathered over more than a year.“We reject any statement that these are fabricated news,” AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun earlier dismissed the AFP&#x27;s report as a “cyanide stunt,” claiming there was no credibility to their story.Trinidad said the government’s conclusions were based on extensive monitoring and laboratory confirmation of samples recovered from Chinese boats operating near the BRP Sierra Madre.“All of our actions are based on scientific evidence. We do not fabricate. It took more than a year to be able to have this liquid checked to confirm that it contained cyanide,” he said.Philippine authorities on Monday confirmed that bottles seized from Chinese sampans tested positive for cyanide, a highly toxic substance harmful to both humans and marine ecosystems.<div>ENCOUNTER AT SEA</div>One of the incidents, which occurred at night in October 2025, was recounted by a soldier deployed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, identified only as Lieutenant Junior Grade “Hermes.”According to Hermes, Philippine troops intercepted a Chinese sampan that had approached the grounded vessel.“Sinubukan ng troops natin na patigilin sila to not move away from their position kung saan sila na-intercept,” he said.“Naked eye, nakita sa sampan nila ang said containers. That time, sinususpect pa lang namin na it contained cyanide,” he added.Hermes stressed that troops exercised maximum restraint during the encounter. “Nakita naman natin sa videos na we asked them to stop. Kung ano lang din nakita namin through naked eye sa Chinese sampan, yun lang ang kinuha namin. Never nilang hinawakan ang Chinese fishermen. Never sila gumamit ng force at nagbato ng anumang projectile. Actually, nung pinatigil nga namin ang Chinese sampan, hinintay pa namin na maayos ang makina at we made sure na makabalik sila sa mothership nila,” Hermes said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/31/nsc-says-china-activities-in-west-ph-sea-part-of-standard-operations-1718">&#x27;Not an escalation&#x27;: NSC says China activities in West PH Sea part of &#x27;standard operations&#x27;</a></div><div>OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS</div>Despite repeated encounters, Trinidad said that troops did not apprehend the Chinese fishermen due to operational considerations. “Because of operational concerns, we did not apprehend them or arrest them. That would mean bringing them aboard the ship. We did not want to bring them aboard LS-57,” he said.Instead, personnel focused on confiscating suspicious materials and driving the vessels away from the area.  <div>ILLEGAL FISHING ACTIVITIES</div>The AFP said recovered items and observations point to illegal fishing activities by Chinese fishermen.Troops found bottles suspected to contain cyanide, along with exotic fish and harvested clams on board the sampans, indicators of destructive fishing practices that damage coral reefs.“They found those bottles suspected of containing cyanide. There were some exotic fish on the bottom of the sampan. There were some clams that have been harvested already. These all point to illegal fishing activities that helped destroy the reef around LS-57,” Trinidad stressed.“Majority of the sampans would contain illegal fishing paraphernalia, considering they were not designed for normal fishing activities… There was no indicator of any authorized fishing gear onboard the sampans,” he continued.He added that the small boats are typically deployed from larger Chinese maritime militia vessels acting as motherships.  <div>‘EXTENSIVE’ ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE</div>The AFP warned of significant and possibly irreversible damage to marine ecosystems around Ayushin Shoal.“The area surrounding LS-57 would show the irreparable damage to the coral reef is quite extensive—not only cyanide but also other illegal fishing methods like fine-meshed nets and larger nets in the entrance of Ayungin Shoal, which are designed to impede or hamper our RORE missions. These nets also aided in the destruction of our coral reefs,” Trinidad said.He noted that large nets placed near the shoal;s entrance not only destroy coral reefs but also obstruct rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to Filipino troops.Another soldier who was deployed to the BRP Sierra Madre, identified as Lieutenant Junior Grade “Poseidon,” described the impact firsthand.“Nakakalungkot kasi yung Ayungin Shoal, nakita ko ilalim niyan during my stay there. Matagal din ako doon. Napakaganda. Nakakalungkot lang na may parts nang patay na,” Poseidon said. <div>SOVEREIGNTY AND SECURITY</div>Trinidad emphasized that the AFP’s operations in the West Philippine Sea are anchored on protecting national sovereignty and the environment. “Our actions in the West Philippine Sea are designed to secure and protect our sovereignty and sovereign rights—that would include protecting the environment,” he stressed.He also disputed China’s claim that Philippine forces harassed Chinese fishermen and seized their supplies. “Since 1992, when we noticed Chinese markers in the WPS until today, the facts on the ground are very clear: the Chinese Communist Part through the PLA-N, CCG and maritime militia has been conducting ICAD—illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive—activities. These ICAD measures have been the cause of instability, not only in the WPS, but in any part of the globe,” he said.Despite ongoing tensions, the AFP said it will continue to enhance maritime domain awareness, intensify patrols, and take necessary measures to safeguard national security in the West Philippine Sea. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/10/afp-naming-131-features-in-wps-vital-assertion-of-ph-rights-1623" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AFP: Naming 131 features in WPS ‘vital assertion’ of PH rights</a></div>

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday rejected China’s claim that reports of cyanide use in Ayungin Shoal were fabricated, insisting its findings are backed by scientific evidence gathered over more than a year.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday rejected China’s claim that reports of cyanide use in Ayungin Shoal were fabricated, insisting its findings are backed by scientific evidence gathered over more than a year.

‘We do not fabricate’: AFP rejects China’s ‘cyanide stunt’ claim

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‘We do not fabricate’: AFP rejects China’s ‘cyanide stunt’ claim

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 14, 2026 06:16 PM PHT

Read More:

fabrications

cyanide stunt

Armed Forces of the Philippines

China

Ayungin Shoal

BRP Sierra Madre

West Philippine Sea

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