President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visits the 80 uniformed personnel who conducted the Philippine rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, including Seaman First Class Jeffrey Facundo of the Philippine Navy, who lost his right thumb during a maritime clash with China last June 17 at the Western Command in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, on Sunday, June 23, 2024. Kj Rosales, PPA pool

MANILA — The Philippine Navy seaman who lost a finger during an encounter between the Chinese Coast Guard and a resupply mission for the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal faced the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Tuesday to narrate the events of June 17.

• AFP reports 'large' China Coast Guard ship passing near BRP Sierra Madre

Seaman First Class Jeffrey Facundo, member of a Naval Special Operations Unit, recalled that he was part of a party of four vessels — two from the Marines and two from NAVSOU that left mainland Palawan on that day and arrived at the shoal at around 6 that morning. 

However only the NAVSOU's boats made it as one of the Marine boats was damaged and its companion boat stayed behind with them.

Once there, the Chinese vessels just rammed them.

"Pagkarating po nila wala na pong warning diniretso yung pagbangga, nagbanggaan na po," Facundo said, explaining there were eight Chinese vessels including an aluminum RHIB of the China Coast Guard.

Facundo recalled that the Chinese personnel had a fireax and pipes with sharp ends. The Chinese cut the ropes on the BRP Sierra Madre.

Facundo said that the Chinese yelled at them while ramming them. 

He said he lost his finger when it got caught against Chinese boat that rammed them.

The Chinese personnel also destroyed two personal cellphones which were being used to navigate the boat.

'RAMMING WAS NO ACCIDENT'

"Hindi siya maitawag na aksidente, intentional, ma'am, eh," Facundo told Sen. Imee Marcos during the hearing. 

"Ayaw na nila magpa-resupply or RORE rotation sa Ayungin. Ayaw kami pa-resupplyin. Ayaw kami paakyatin kasi bawasan na tao sa Ayungin yun ang ano nila para sa akin." 

Facundo said he boarded the BRP Sierra Madre when the Chinese towed away their two RHIBs.

They attempted a medical evacuation but their rubber boat was deflated by the China Coast Guard about 1 nautical mile out.

Facundo also recalled that the Chinese threw corals at the Sierra Madre.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo maintained that the DFA immediately denounced the actions and highlighted the fact that they led to the injury of Filipino personnel and damage to Philippine vessels. 

Manalo explained they issued a  public statement to this effect and also sent a message to Chinese diplomatic officials.

"We sternly communicated to our counterparts that it was really incomprehensible how the delivery of basic necessities to our troops on the BRP Sierra Madre could be considered a provocation that would justify an increased level of Chinese actions," Manalo explained.

"While we have a policy still as agreed by President Marcos and President Xi Jinping that we agreed our governments should seek to manage our maritime differences and not let incidents define our bilateral relations, it's clear many of these recent incidents by China are inconsistent with this declared intention," he also said.

Manalo however maintained that they prioritize dialogue and diplomacy.

"Nevertheless the DFA in consultation with the National Maritime Council, which met last Friday to look at the issue we still believe  its the primacy of dialogue and diplomacy should prevail even in the face of these serious incidents though of course I admit it's also a challenge." Manalo said. 

"We will pursue the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international laws specifically the UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral award we have been working hard to bring back China to the table to talk with us."

PCG: WE DID OUR BEST

The Philippine Coast  Guard for its part debunked claims it was late in aiding the sailors, maintaining they did their best and did their part to lower the tension by employing women radio operators to communicate with their counterparts.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro clarified that Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin only said that the incident was "probably" a misunderstanding.

• Calling Ayungin incident an accident sends the wrong message — defense analyst

Teodoro maintained that the incident was not a misunderstanding.

Manalo and Teodoro both admitted there are no high level talks with their counterparts yet.

"They have a tendency of using the talks against us, they have not proven a level of good faith that would warrant our sensitive department to talk to them," Teodoro said.

Teodoro also clarified that Chinese vessels spotted supposedly in Balabac Palawan were on innocent passage.

DFA Assistant Secretary Marshall Louis Alferez of the Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office meanwhile saw the submission of the country's bid for an extension of its continental shelf would be a platform for cooperation among claimants.

"China is not the only one who can possibly object, there's a possibility of course that there are overlaps with other claimant countries, that certainly provides us a way to discuss with other claimant countries," Alferez said.

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