Water cannon incident does not merit retaliation, AFP says

MANILA, Philippines - The water cannon incident in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal does not merit military action but deserves international condemnation, the military said Tuesday.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said the latest harassment of unarmed Filipino fishermen by the Chinese Coast Guard was alarming.

“What happened with the use of the Chinese Coast Guard of water cannons to our fishermen is really alarming. However, the incident done by the Chinese Coast Guard to our fishermen, we believe, does not merit a military response,” Zagala told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.

“We do not (want to) escalate the already volatile situation in the area. However, them using water cannon toward Filipino citizens is a concern that merits further discussion on how to deal with such situations,” he added.

On Monday, Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista revealed that a Chinese Coast Guard vessel used water cannons to drive away Filipino fishermen in Panatag Shoal, an area within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The incident occurred January 27 and was reported to authorities by local fishermen.

Also known as Bajo de Masinloc, Panatag Shoal is located 124 nautical miles from the nearest point in Zambales.

When asked by the media what incident would merit a military action, Zagala said: “That’s speculative. Don’t let me talk about deploying forces there if that’s what you want to hear.”

Zagala cited the need to formulate a code of conduct for all claimants in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

“We are supporting the pursuit of government in the path of international tribunal to solve the problem here and the best really is a code of conduct so that it will not happen again,” he said.

“The international community can now be aware of what is the real situation there, that it really merits an international response and condemnation,” he added.

Zagala reiterated his call for local fishermen to continue fishing in the area despite China’s aggressive acts.

“We cannot let an aggressor stop our way of life,” he said.

Wescom to oversee Panatag Shoal

Meanwhile, the supervision of the Panatag Shoal has been transferred to the Palawan-based Western Command (Wescom) from the Northern Luzon Command in Tarlac.

Zagala said the adjustment seeks to unify all troops and assets securing Philippine territories in the West Philippine Sea.

“This is so to enhance our external defense capabilities, which is now being concentrated at the Western Command, unity of effort and unity of command so that our external defense efforts will just be under one commander,” he said.

“The Western Command has the necessary assets that can address territorial defense and monitoring. They have the necessary aircraft that can fly to all these areas for the purpose of monitoring and reporting to higher government office.”

Wescom is being led by Air Force Lt. Gen. Roy Deveraturda while Nolcom is headed by Army Lt. Gen. Gregorio Catapang.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista signed the order expanding Wescom’s area last week. The order added another area to Wescom, which is now on the frontline of a very tense territorial dispute.

Other West Philippine Sea areas being secured by Wescom include Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, Recto (Reed) Bank and Panganiban (Mischief) Reef off Palawan, all of which are being claimed by China.

When asked whether Wescom already has too much on its plate, Zagala said: “Yes but that is their core competency. Remember, Western Command traditionally is commanded by an Air Force or a Navy officer primarily because of external (defense) and that the battle space is at sea and air.”

Panatag Shoal is within the jurisdiction of Zambales, a province that is part of Nolcom’s area of responsibility. The province is three regions away from Palawan.