2 fishermen hurt after boat explosion near Bajo de Masinloc

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:07 p.m.) — Two Filipino fishermen were injured after their fishing boat’s engine blew up near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) on Saturday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

According to the PCG, the boat sank at 3 p.m. on Saturday after its engine exploded.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo stated that they carried out rescue operations and provided medical care to the injured fishers.

The agency also said that there were two Chinese vessels seen during the incident. 

PCG has yet to respond to Philstar.com's request for further information and comment regarding the incident.

Chinese vessels have been spotted  in parts of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) that usually hamper the PCG's operations and some instances harass Filipino fishermen.

Last June 17, a personnel from the Philippine Navy lost a thumb when Chinese coast guard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled the navy's attempt to resupply the anchored BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, a part of the WPS.

The incident has been described as an "aggressive and illegal use of force" by Defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

However, despite the aggression of the China Coast Guard, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said that this does not trigger the 72-year-old mutual defense treaty between the United States and the Philippines.