The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) today announced the successful deployment of its multi-role response vessels, MRRV-4403 and MRRV-4411, to the vicinity of Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea to provide critical support to a group of Filipino fishermen who were subjected to harassment by Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM).
On December 12, 2025, the PCG received reports that approximately 20 Filipino fishing boats (FFBs) operating lawfully in the area were targeted with water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers by CCG vessels 21559 and 21562 and accompanying CMMs. In a brazen escalation, small CCG Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) deliberately cut the anchor lines of several FFBs, endangering the vessels and their crews amid strong currents and high waves.
As a direct result of these aggressive actions, three Filipino fishermen sustained physical injuries, including bruises and open wounds. Two FFBs also suffered significant damage from high-pressure water cannon blasts.
En route to rendezvous with the affected fishermen, the PCG vessels encountered repeated blocking and dangerous maneuvers by CCG vessels 21559, 5204 and 21562. One particularly hazardous incident occurred when CCG-23519 approached within 35 yards of a PCG vessel during nighttime navigation. Despite these unprofessional and unlawful interferences, the PCG successfully reached the fishermen this morning and provided immediate medical attention to the injured, along with essential supplies.
Currently, MRRV-4403 and MRRV-4411, in coordination with the vessel MV Pamalakaya, are maintaining close proximity to the group of Filipino fishermen to ensure their security and safety. Fuel, ice, and food provisions have been distributed to sustain their ongoing fishing activities, in line with the government’s Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda (KBBM) initiative.
The China Coast Guard’s statement confirming the implementation of “necessary control measures” against Filipino fishermen constitutes an acknowledgment of actions that endangered the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Filipinos exercising their rightful activities within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
In furherance of the standing directive of President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr, the PCG under the leadership of Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, the Philippine Coast Guard remains steadfast in its mandate to protect Filipino fishermen and uphold maritime safety in the West Philippine Sea. The PCG calls on the Chinese Coast Guard to adhere to internationally recognized standards of conduct, prioritizing the preservation of life at sea over pretensions of law enforcement that jeopardize the lives of innocent fishermen.
