PCG accuses China vessels of ‘delaying’ medical evacuation of PH sailor in Ayungin
Philippine Navy personnel from the BRP Sierra Madre (LS57) aboard two rubber boats successfully transfered their fellow sailor to a Philippine Coast Guard rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) from MRRV-4409 during an emergency medical evacuation at Ayungin Shoal on October 8, 2026. Philippine Coast GuardMANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday completed the emergency medical evacuation of a Philippine Navy personnel stationed aboard BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal, as it accused China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels of obstructing the mission and delaying it by nearly ten hours.
The PCG said it deployed BRP Cabra from Lawak Island.
“At around 7:30 a.m., the vessel reached a position about 9 nautical miles north of Ayungin Shoal. CCG vessel 5306, which had been making dangerous maneuvers near BRP Cabra, then activated its water cannon. It kept the water cannon running as it closed in from about 1.3 nautical miles to roughly 400 yards of the PCG vessel, apparently to drive BRP Cabra away from the shoal,” the PCG recounted.
The PCG said the alleged harassment continued until the afternoon.
“At around 3:15 p.m., the patient and his companion were safely transferred to the PCG RHIB… The PCG RHIB reached BRP Cabra shortly before 5:00 p.m. with no further incident. A PCG medical officer immediately examined the patient, checked his vital signs, and started intravenous fluids. He is now stable and is being transported to port of Buliluyan for further treatment,” it said.
The PCG noted a “transfer like this would normally take only a few hours.”
“It took nearly ten because of the CCG’s water cannon use, its persistent harassment and blocking, and its dangerous maneuvers against PCG assets,” the PCG said.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan called on the CCG to respect the humanitarian nature of medical evacuation missions in the future.
“When a life is at stake, there should be no water cannon, no obstruction, and no delay. Saving a sick or injured person at sea is a basic obligation that every coast guard in the world is expected to uphold. We call on the CCG to value and respect humanitarian missions moving forward, and to act in a manner consistent with international law and the professional standards expected of any coast guard,” Gavan said.