AFP denies China warship fired at PAF plane over Pag-asa Island

A CHINESE frigate supposedly fired shots at a Philippine military aircraft early this week in Pag-asa Island (Thitu) West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

“There was a near disastrous incident between a Chinese frigate and PAF patrol aircraft early Monday. The frigate fired an illumination round on the PAF aircraft which necessitated grounding all military flights into the West Philippine Sea,” former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan III posted on Facebook Wednesday night, quoting his source from Pag-asa Island.

But military officials denied such incident happened.

“We strongly deny that any of our military planes was fired upon by the Chinese…,” Armed Forces Public Affairs Office chief Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo on Thursday.

“Firing incident in the West Philippine Sea is a serious matter that must not be a subject to malicious rumors,” he added.

An illumination round, as described by a military officer, is a type of ordnance that doesn’t explode but launches a flare on a parachute intended to provide illumination in a given target.

“It literally can convert night into day so combatants can see their targets,” the officer said.

A separate source said no illumination round was ever fired but “the Chinese ships did open their powerful lights while our aircraft were flying in the area.”

The incident supposedly delayed the evacuation of a sick radio enthusiast from the island because of the alleged grounded military planes.

But Cabunoc explained that the Nomad plane that was supposed to be used for the evacuation had technical difficulties.

“We confirm that the Western Command was requested to pick up a patient named Chito Pastor using a Nomad plane from Pag-asa Island today. However, Wescom was not able to provide the aircraft because of technical problems. Instead, Wescom allowed the relatives of the patient to use a civilian plane to evacuate patient,” Cabunoc said.

Pastor was evacuated to Puerto Princesa in Palawan at about 1 p.m.

Pag-asa is the biggest island claimed by the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea. There are about 200 residents in the island to assert the Philippine sovereignty.

On Monday, AFP chief General Gregorio Catapang Jr. asked China to stop its reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea, including in areas claimed the Philippines such as Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef) where rapid developments have been made.

Also recently, the Chinese Coast Guard has driven away Filipino fishermen using water cannon in Panatag Shoal (Scarborough) off Zambales, that is also part of the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines has filed a case in the international court to protest China’s territorial claims and aggression in the disputed sea. While waiting for the ruling, the military has repeatedly vowed to continue patrolling the disputed sea. AC