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SAN NARCISO, Zambales—The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said it will “investigate” if China’s latest water cannon attack was aimed at the Philippine flag hoisted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on its vessel.
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III has amplified the international condemnation of China’s aggression on April 30, calling it “irresponsible behavior” during a news conference in Hawaii together with his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday.
Videos of the harassment taken by the PCG and GMA News showed a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel aiming its jet of water at the Philippine flag hoisted on the PCG vessel BRP Bagacay.
The CCG also attacked the Bagacay’s accompanying vessel, BRP Bankaw of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and damaged its air-conditioning, electrical, navigation and radio systems.
“I think we have to investigate [if the Bagacay’s flag was targeted]. It’s difficult to actually already say that it should be protested,” the DFA’s spokesperson, Undersecretary Ma. Teresita Daza, told reporters on the sidelines of a workshop on national security in this municipality.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, also told reporters here that it was possible the water cannons were targeting the flag, besides the communication and navigation systems of the PCG and BFAR vessels.
