Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17845346866181766745791208viber_image_2025-12-26_17-58-00-887 (7).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>A Philippine Navy personnel sustained a head injury after being struck with a wooden baton by China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel during a confrontation at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Monday, July 20, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said. 📷 AFP</div>MANILA (UPDATED) -- A Philippine Navy personnel sustained a head injury after being struck with a wooden baton by China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel during a confrontation at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Monday, July 20, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.In a statement, the AFP said a CCG rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) carrying eight personnel from vessel CCGV 21560 unlawfully approached within close range of the BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippine military outpost grounded on Ayungin Shoal.The CCG boat reportedly circled the area while taking photos and videos, prompting two AFP rubber boats to &quot;calmly and non-confrontationally&quot; drive it away.According to the AFP, the Chinese personnel responded aggressively by striking a Philippine Navy personnel on the head with a wooden baton, causing injury. The action also damaged one of the Navy&#x27;s rubber boats.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/-monkey-depiction-of-filipinos-unacceptable-says-malacanang-1506">READ: &#x27;Monkey&#x27; depiction of Filipinos unacceptable, says Malacanang</a></div>&quot;The CCGV personnel reacted violently and aggressively by striking a Philippine Navy personnel on the head with a wooden baton, causing injury and damaging the Navy rubber boat operating within the area where our country enjoys sovereign rights under international law,&quot; the AFP said.The military said the Western Command (WESCOM) immediately provided medical attention to the injured personnel.&quot;The WESCOM, AFP… is currently coordinating with BRP Sierra Madre as to the extent of the injuries and  if said injuries necessitate a medical evacuation,&quot; the AFP noted.The AFP condemned the latest &quot;aggressive actions and assault&quot; by the CCG, saying these &quot;demonstrate a blatant disregard for safety, endanger the lives of our personnel and escalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea.&quot;Despite the incident, the military said its personnel exercised restraint and acted in accordance with the Rules of Engagement while carrying out a lawful mission within the Philippines&#x27; exclusive economic zone (EEZ).&quot;The AFP remains steadfast in protecting the country&#x27;s sovereign rights and jurisdiction. Our lawful presence and sustainment operations in Ayungin Shoal will continue. No act of coercion or aggression will deter us from carrying out our constitutional mandate or exercising the Philippines&#x27; lawful rights in the West Philippine Sea,&quot; it said.The AFP also called on the People&#x27;s Liberation Army, (PLA) the CCG, and China&#x27;s maritime militia to stop their illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive (ICAD) actions in the West Philippine Sea and to comply with the 2016 Arbitral Award, which affirms the Philippines&#x27; maritime rights under international law.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/12/ph-13-countries-reaffirm-2016-arbitral-award-on-its-10th-year-0841">READ: PH, 13 countries reaffirm 2016 arbitral award on its 10th year</a></div>The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it is already coordinating with the AFP on the incident.&quot;Any act of violence against Filipino personnel is unacceptable and will merit the appropriate diplomatic action,&quot; the DFA said.&quot;The DFA is committed to upholding the safety and well-being of Filipino personnel in BRP Sierra Madre who are lawfully performing their duties.&quot;<div> </div><div>DND: AYUNGIN ASSAULT REINFORCES POLICY OF DISENGAGEMENT WITH CHINA</div>Meanwhile, the Department of National Defense (DND) condemned the latest assault by the CCG against Philippine Navy personnel at Ayungin Shoal, saying the incident reinforces the government&#x27;s policy of disengagement with Beijing.&quot;The latest act of violence and harassment… adds to a clear pattern of provocative and hostile behavior, and further contributes to the People&#x27;s Republic of China&#x27;s deficit of trust and credibility,&quot; the DND said.The department said China&#x27;s continued disregard for international law, including the 2016 Arbitral Award, shows that &quot;we simply cannot trust this belligerent neighbor.&quot;It also commended the professionalism and resolve of Philippine troops during the confrontation, and vowed to strengthen the country&#x27;s deterrence, alliances, and commitment to defending its maritime rights.&quot;As we continue to monitor and prepare measures to meet this aggression, the DND salutes the defenders of BRP Sierra Madre and our western frontier. We will not back down,&quot; the department said.&quot;&#x27;Di tayo pasisiil!&quot; it added.<div> </div><div>&#x27;VERBAL WARNINGS&#x27;</div>The China Coast Guard said in a statement that it had taken &quot;reciprocal countermeasures&quot; and issued &quot;verbal warnings&quot; in response to two rubber boats that were sent from the grounded Philippine vessel.&quot;Disregarding repeated, clear warnings from our side, these boats rapidly approached the Chinese patrol boat in a dangerous manner, attempting to encircle and ram it,&quot; the statement said.The Chinese statement said that &quot;the Philippine side distorted the facts and falsely accused China in a complete reversal of the truth&quot;.In June 2024, Chinese law enforcement personnel armed with knives, sticks and an axe attacked Filipino troops attempting to resupply a Philippine garrison on Second Thomas Shoal.The two sides said a month later they had reached a provisional deal on resupply missions to the Sierra Madre, which was grounded to assert Manila&#x27;s claims to the reef.Monday&#x27;s clash comes on the heels of an ongoing war of words between China and the Philippines over their South China Sea claims.Manila filed a diplomatic protest on Friday over a &quot;racist&quot; video posted by Chinese state media in which the Philippines was portrayed as a cartoon monkey. -- with a report from Agence France-Presse

A Philippine Navy personnel sustained a head injury after being struck with a wooden baton by China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel during a confrontation at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Monday, July 20, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.

A Philippine Navy personnel sustained a head injury after being struck with a wooden baton by China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel during a confrontation at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Monday, July 20, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.

PH Navy personnel injured after China Coast Guard baton attack at Ayungin Shoal

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PH Navy personnel injured after China Coast Guard baton attack at Ayungin Shoal

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 20, 2026 04:05 PM PHT

|

Updated July 20, 2026 08:37 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Navy

China

West philippine sea

Western Command

China Coast Guard

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