PCG says Ayungin mission was for medical evacuation, not covert resupply

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday said its latest mission to Ayungin Shoal was solely for a medical evacuation and not a covert attempt to resupply the BRP Sierra Madre.

Speaking to reporters, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela described China’s obstruction of the humanitarian mission as barbaric, saying it delayed the evacuation of an ailing sailor from the grounded warship by 10 hours.

“This is another barbaric behavior of the Chinese government. Wala silang pakialam sa buhay (They don’t care about human life); they never cared about the health and safety of our personnel on board BRP Sierra Madre,” Tarriela said.

During the mission, a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel reportedly tailed the PCG’s BRP Cabra and blocked it from approaching the shoal, as shown on videos provided by Tarriela.

The CCG vessel also activated its water cannon and came as close as 400 yards to the Philippine ship, according to the PCG’s report.

The Chinese also tailed the rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) deployed by the PCG to instead transport the personnel from the grounded warship.

“Iniisip siguro nila, this is just another cover up ng Philippine government, that there is really no seriously ill person. Kaya ‘yong paranoia nila is like that because they themselves, they are chino-ngaling,” Tarriela added.

(They probably think this is just another cover-up by the Philippine government, that there really is no seriously ill person. That’s why they are so paranoid, because they themselves are chino-ngaling.)

There has been no troop rotation or resupply of necessities to the BRP Sierra Madre, the rusting, grounded warship that serves as the Philippines’ military outpost in Ayungin Shoal. This followed the aggressive blocking of a Philippine mission on September 24 by three PLA-N warships, including two Houbei-class missile boats, and five CCG vessels.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. earlier said during his visit to the Western Command that the Philippines would continue pursuing resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre.

“Definitely, whatever happens, kailangan gawin (it needs to be done). That is a principle. And without disclosing details, it has to be done,” Teodoro told select members of the press, adding that operational matters would be left to the Western Command.