WEST PHILIPPINE SEA – China vessels shadowed and surrounded the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship and some fishing boats in the West Philippine Sea amid its civilian supply mission near the Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal).

At least 2 Chinese Coast Guard vessels tailed BRP Bagacay around 5 p.m. on Wednesday and 5 a.m. Thursday. 

The PCG ship is escorting the “Atin ‘to!”, a coalition convoy that set sail to distribute fuel and food to fishers and assert Philippine rights in the waterway. 

The development prompted the PCG personnel to transfer all chairs and an LED board inside the ship.

PCG and CCG personnel also exchanged heated radio challenges, until before 6 p.m., when a CCG ship almost blocked BRP Bagacay and continued to shadow it until the rest of Wednesday evening.

Aside from BRP Bagacay, at least four “mother” fishing boats as of 9:28 a.m. Thursday were moored 56 nautical miles from Panatag Shoal, waiting for the remaining Atin ‘to convoy to distribute food and fuel supplies to smaller fishing vessels in the area.

During this time, a Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) ship appeared in the area.

The “Atin ‘To!” activity finished shortly 12 noon.

Earlier this month, CCG vessels blasted water cannons on both sides of BRP Bagacay, destroying some P2 million to P3 million worth of Philippine property.

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