By Billy Begas
Members of the House Young Guns expressed outrage on Tuesday over the violent assault by China Coast Guard personnel on a Philippine Navy sailor near BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
“Tinitindigan namin ang karahasan na ito! Hindi ito tama!” said the group’s members, House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V, House Deputy Speaker Jay Khonghun, Manila Rep. Ernix Dionisio, and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong.
According to reports, China Coast Guard (CCG) Vessel 21560 deployed a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) carrying eight personnel that deliberately approached BRP Sierra Madre at around 9:15 a.m. on Monday.
The CCG personnel reportedly circled the grounded warship and took photos and videos, prompting the deployment of two Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) rubber boats to drive them away. Despite repeated instructions from Philippine Navy (PN) personnel to leave the area, the CCG RHIB allegedly refused to withdraw.
During the confrontation, a CCG personnel allegedly struck a PN serviceman in the head with a wooden baton, injuring him and damaging one of the Navy’s rubber boats.
“Hindi dapat nakakaranas ng ganitong karahasan ang isang Pilipino — sa loob ng ating Exclusive Economic Zone!” the House Young Guns said.
“We stand with our Armed Forces and the Filipino people in defending our maritime domain. Diplomacy must be matched with resolve. We will not back down,” he added.
The House Young Guns stressed that Ayungin Shoal lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The group also salutes the professionalism and restraint shown by our Navy personnel amid the provocation and wishes the injured sailor a swift and complete recovery.
“We call on China to immediately stop these dangerous acts that endanger lives and threaten regional stability,” they added.—Politiko.com.ph
