Tarriela: CCG did not assist, but hindered rescue in WPS | INQToday

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore J Tariella says the Chinese Coast Guard did not assist the PCG in the rescue of two injured Filipino fishers in the West Philippine Sea. The PCG earlier reported that two out of eight Filipino fishermen suffered second degree burns after their vessels engine exploded near Bali Machine lock of Scarborough Shoal in a post on X. Tariella says the China Coast Guard employed 2 rigid hull inflatable boats to obstruct and hinder the PC GS efforts to rescue the Filipino fishermen. Chinese state media earlier claimed China Coast Guard supposedly helped in the rescue, but Tariella says Chinese state media supposedly struggled with editing their videos. According to Dariella, despite the interference from the China Coast Guard, the PCG managed to outmaneuver China's boats. PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Bolilo also said China Coast Guard ships initially blocked the PC GS rescue efforts. According to Bolilo, PCGS VRPC Dangal also received radio challenges as well as encountered shadowing by the China Coast Guard and People's Liberation Army Navy ships. But after hearing about the explosion, Palita said the China Coast Guard eventually let VR piece in, down and through.