Navy: China vessel saving PH crew doesn’t erase past actions
The Philippine Navy on Monday said it was relieved that Filipino crew members of the cargo vessel MV Devon Bay were rescued at sea, but emphasized that such action is a basic duty of all coast guards and does not erase China’s past coercive activities in the West Philippine Sea.
Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said at a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City that rendering assistance to distressed mariners is mandated under international maritime norms.
“First of all, we are happy that our countrymen are safe,” Trinidad said. “Actions like this are what are expected of responsible coast guards around the world, regardless of nationality.”
After the Singaporean cargo ship MV Devon Bay capsized on Thursday with 21 Filipino crew members, the China Coast Guard (CCG) rescued 17 of the crew, while four remain missing.
Trinidad said every mariner and coast guard is required to assist fellow seafarers “regardless of creed, flag, or nationality,” to ensure the safety of lives at sea.
He cautioned against highlighting the rescue as extraordinary, particularly given the CCG’s past behavior in the area.
“We do not expect further announcements that would highlight such a rescue because it is expected,” he said. “Especially if the one conducting the rescue has a past record of coercive and aggressive actions. Otherwise, highlighting such activities would lose the essence of the rescue itself and may even become mere propaganda.”
Inside PH EEZ
Trinidad said Philippine monitoring indicated that the Chinese coast guard vessel that assisted the Devon Bay crew was part of a flotilla operating illegally within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc.
“That should also be a question to be asked—what are their ships doing inside our EEZ?” he said.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) continued its search and rescue operation on Saturday for the four Filipino crew members still missing from the MV Devon Bay mishap.
The PCG’s 97-meter-vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) led the surface search in the distressed area, while a PCG Islander aircraft conducted aerial reconnaissance.
Stronger actions urged
Over in Congress, the Liberal Party (LP) and Akbayan bloc in the House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the Marcos administration to take stronger action to address what they called “discourteous, disparaging, and inflammatory language” against Philippine public servants.
In filing House Resolution No. 680, the lawmakers called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to summon the Chinese ambassador and to possibly declare persona non grata any embassy spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy’s “repeated public statements and social media posts” that “personally attacked the competence and integrity of Philippine public servants … and threats couched as warnings to ‘stop or pay the price.’”
These, the resolution said, “[went] beyond legitimate articulation of a foreign State’s position and constitute an unacceptable departure from the restraint, civility, and mutual respect expected of diplomatic missions.”
The resolution was signed by Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima and fellow LP members Representatives Edgar Erice (Caloocan), Adrian Amatong (Zamboanga del Norte), Arlene Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands), Jaime Fresnedi (Muntinlupa CIty), Cielo Lagman (Albay) and Alfonso Umali (Oriental Mindoro); as well as Akbayan Representatives Chel Diokno, Percival Cendaña and Dadah Kiram Ismula.
Senate Resolution No. 256 led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros likewise condemned recent public statements made by the Chinese Embassy criticizing Philippine officials and institutions for positions taken in defense of national sovereignty and maritime rights.
