3 fishermen injured in Chinese water cannon attack 'in better condition' - NMC

MANILA, December 16 ------ The three fishermen injured in the Chinese vessels' water cannon attack in Escoda Shoal are already "in better condition," the National Maritime Council (NMC) said.

The Philippine Coast Guard said the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese maritime militia (CMM) ships over the weekend attacked the Filipino boats with water cannons and used dangerous blocking maneuvers near Escoda Shoal within the Philippine exclusive economic zone. The PCG said the three Filipino fishermen had bruises and open wounds, while two boats were damaged by high-pressure water cannon blasts. Asked about the condition of these injured fishermen, NMC Spokesperson Alexander Lopez said they are already recovering. "Ang tinamaan ay diumano ay natumba, tumama sa matitigas at matatalas na parte ng kanilang sinasakyang pangisda. Sa ulat ng Philippine Coast Guard, sila ngayon ay nasa mabuting kalagayan na," said Lopez in a public briefing.

Lopez said Philippine ships immediately responded to the incident. "Yung sa insidenteng yun, nakapagresponde ang ating gobyerno at nakapagdala ng dalawang coast guard vessels upang sumaklolo sa ating mga mangingisda sa Escoda Shoal," he said. "Nabigyan ng karampatang medikal na atensyon ang mga nasugatan na mangingisda sa insidente at sa presensya ng ating Coast Guard vessels, nabigyan din ang ating mga mangingisda ng sapat na seguridad o proteksyon sa kabila ng presensya ng China Coast Guard sa lugar na nagmamatyag sa hindi kalayuan," he added.

Philippine authorities are still assessing the damage on the boats, he said, saying this is the first time that Chinese ships deliberately and directly hit these boats during a water cannon incident. "Yung nangyari sa Escoda ay talagang malapitan at direkta kaya nasugatan ang tatlo nating mangingisda at nakasira ng ating mga sasakyang pangisda. Kaya tayo ay nababahala at kinokondena ang pangyayaring ito," he said.

United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson on Saturday condemned what she described as aggressive and illegal actions by the China Coast Guard. "China Coast Guard's aggressive tactics water cannoning and cutting anchor lines—against Filipino fishers at Sabina Shoal threaten lives and livelihoods," said Carlson. "We strongly condemn these illegal actions and applaud [Philippine Coastguard] for aiding fishers and defending sovereign rights."

Source: news.abs-cbn.com