CHINA COAST GUARD TRIES TO OFFER HELP TO PH COAST GUARD IN RESCUING PINOY FISHERMEN IN WPS

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — In times of crisis, humanity prevails.

This encapsulates the incident when amid the aggressive actions of China Coast Guard (CCG) in the West Philippine Sea, it finally showed compassion and sense of humanity when it offered to help the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in rescuing the two fishermen who sustained injuries after their boat’s engine exploded near Bajo de Masinloc on Saturday (29 June 2024).

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said the CCG eventually allowed their multi-role response vessel (MRRV) through after hearing about the explosion.

“Nung una binlock muna pero nung after nila malaman ‘yung reason they even offered help to rescue pero tayo ang nag-rescue,” the INQUIRER.net quoted Balilo as saying in a phone interview.

He said eight fishermen were aboard the ill-fated boat about 10 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc, also called Scarborough Shoal and Panatag Shoal, when the explosion happened about 2 p.m.

There were no details what caused the explosion.

(el Amigo/mnm)