Bongbong Marcos tells PCG to probe Ayungin Shoal vessel collision

Palace officials hold a meeting with the defense sector of the Cabinet and other security agencies. Photo from the Presidential Communications Office

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday told the Philippine Coast Guard to investigate the collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels in Ayungin Shoal.

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Marcos led a Command Conference to address the new wave of Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

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“He instructed the Philippine Coast Guard to conduct an investigation, as mandated by international maritime laws, into the events that transpired during the RORE mission to Ayungin Shoal by vessels of the China Coast Guard,” said the PCO in a Facebook post.

The PCO said that the highest level of government is taking the incident very seriously.

In a Palace briefing,  PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said that he has already instructed the appropriate unit to start the probe.  

“I have already issued the directive to our Commander, the Coast Guard District Palawan, to conduct a maritime incident investigation immediately,” said Gavan. 

Gavan said that the PCG’s investigation will focus on the vessels’ damage.

“We find it unfortunate or ironic that the fellow coast guard will violate the law where they, themselves are supposed to enforce.So, we’ll be submitting the report of our investigation through our department, the Department of Transportation to the President for final disposition,” said Cavan. 

JPV/abc /gsg