A Chinese fishing vessel ran aground in shallow waters east of Pag-asa Island on Saturday afternoon, June 7, according to local fishermen in Kalayaan, Palawan.
According to a report by Edniel Parrosa, Filipino fishermen spotted the vessel at around 3:00 p.m.. The vessel resembled those commonly used by China's maritime militia.
Larry Hugo, head of the Kalayaan Palawan Farmers and Fisherfolk Association, expressed concern that the incident might be intentional—similar to how the Philippines deliberately grounded the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal to assert its presence in the West Philippine Sea.
However, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) downplayed the concerns. According to Capt. Ellaine Collado, Public Affairs Chief of the AFP Western Command, the Chinese vessel may have simply drifted due to bad weather.
Collado said that when the Philippine Coast Guard responded and the AFP monitored the situation, the vessel eventually left the area on its own.
"Yung Coast Guard, nakalapit po sa location po noong vessel, kaya naconfirm na aground siya," Collado said during an interview with reporters.
Meanwhile, the military did not receive any report on the actions of the Chinese vessel before or after the incident.
The AFP assured the public that responding to distress situations at sea is a standard responsibility of professional maritime units such as the Navy and Coast Guard, regardless of the vessel's origin.
"Since maritime incident, ang mga tropa po natin ay ready to respond, to assist," Collado noted.
