The Department of National Defense (DND) has strongly condemned what it described as China’s “inhumane” use of water cannons against Filipino fishermen in Escoda Shoal, vowing to respond through appropriate legal and diplomatic measures.

According to RH Edniel Parrosa's report, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the Philippines would pursue formal action following the incident, which left three Filipino fishermen injured and resulted in the destruction of two fishing boats.

Teodoro rejected claims by China’s Foreign Ministry that the Filipino fishermen were armed with bladed weapons when they encountered the Chinese Coast Guard, calling the allegations “a blatant lie” and saying there was no evidence to support them.

The DND chief said it is not Beijing but the Philippines that has rightful jurisdiction over the waters, citing the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.

The defense chief also pushed back against China’s assertion that other countries have no right to comment on the issue, stressing that the incident is a matter of international law and not merely a bilateral concern.

Teodoro further urged China to stop spreading what he described as state-backed disinformation related to the incident and the broader situation in the West Philippine Sea.

In its latest update, the National Maritime Council reported that the three injured fishermen are now in stable condition.

The council described the incident as among the most severe cases of harassment by China in the West Philippine Sea to date.