Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Marilyn Cahatol

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766731089065603887397_1186480526935185_6307720882902129764_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Chinese Embassy Manila/Facebook</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED) </strong>— The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday raised “critical points” in the alleged humanitarian gesture of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to a Filipino fisherman off the coast of Zambales.</p><p>The Chinese Embassy Manila on Facebook said a Chinese Navy ship on Dec. 25 provided food and water to a fisherman, who it said was stranded for three days due to engine failure, while allegedly coordinating with the Philippine Coast Guard.</p><p>PCG confirmed that the PLAN missile destroyer provided a bottle of water and three packs of biscuits to the Filipino fisherman, acknowledging it as &quot;a notable contrast to the barbaric, illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions often employed by the China Coast Guard against Filipino fishermen.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/13/3-pinoy-fishermen-sustain-injuries-after-harassment-from-chinese-vessels-pcg-1435">3 Filipino fishermen injured in Chinese ships&#x27; water cannon attack</a></div><p>The PCG however clarified that the Filipino fisherman whom PLAN claimed to have assisted was neither adrift nor in distress.</p><p>PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said the fisherman was safely moored to a floating aggregate device, locally known as a payao, near Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales, while waiting to be retrieved by his mother boat.</p><p>Tarriela explained that the fisherman wrote the words “Help me” using carbon deposits from his boat’s engine not to seek assistance from the Chinese navy, but out of fear that he might be boarded.</p><p>“Primarily kasi natatakot siya na dahil nag-iisa lang siya at baka i-board siya ng Chinese warship at walang witness na malaman kung anong gagawin sa kanya,” Tarriela told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>(Primarily, he was afraid because he was alone and might be boarded by a Chinese warship, with no witnesses to know what could be done to him.)</p><p>The PCG also explained that the fishing boat was safely moored to a floating aggregate device (FAD) or “payao” and awaiting pickup by their mother boat. </p><p>It also departed Dec. 24 around 3 p.m., and was located by the PCG and the mother boat the following afternoon—less than 24 hours later.</p><p>“In less than 24 hours, nakuha na naman natin siya. Not three days,” Tarriela said.</p><p>(In less than 24 hours, we were able to retrieve him. Not three days.)</p><p>Tarriela also underscored that the PLAN destroyer warship had no legitimate reason to operate in the area where the supposed assistance took place, noting that it falls within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).</p><p>He added that the incident should not be exploited as propaganda by China, but should instead underscore Filipino fishermen’s full right to fish in the waters around Bajo de Masinloc.</p><p>“Itong mga ganitong pamimigay ng tubig, biskwit, hindi ito propaganda para ma-extinguish ’yong naging galit ng ating mga kababayang Pilipino noong mga nakaraang linggo kung saan ang ating ordinary Filipino fishermen were subjected to water cannon attack by the Chinese coast guard,” he said.</p><p>(These acts of giving water and biscuits should not be used as propaganda to extinguish the anger of our fellow Filipinos over the past weeks, when ordinary Filipino fishermen were subjected to water cannon attacks by the Chinese Coast Guard.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/3/pcg-spots-more-chinese-ships-near-bajo-de-masinloc-1823">PCG spots more Chinese ships near Bajo de Masinloc</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jvxMiWfDFu0?si=2UN8Wbmb1sdwuAOF" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The PCG said it hopes the incident is not exploited as propaganda by China, but “should serve as recognition that Filipino fishermen have full rights to fish in the waters around Bajo de Masinloc.”</p>

The PCG said it hopes the incident is not exploited as propaganda by China, but “should serve as recognition that Filipino fishermen have full rights to fish in the waters around Bajo de Masinloc.”

PCG questions China’s 'humanitarian act' to Filipino fisherman

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PCG questions China’s 'humanitarian act' to Filipino fisherman

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 26, 2025 03:06 PM PHT

|

Updated Dec 26, 2025 06:03 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Coast Guard

Zambales

China

West Philippine Sea

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