Brave and steadfast

Last November 10, the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) used a water cannon on a ship chartered by the AFP to bring supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre. Five ships took part in the resupply mission --two ships carrying supplies and three Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) escorts. The three escorts included the BRP Melchora Aquino, one of the PCG's larger ships. But they faced a total of 38 Chinese ships. Five of those ships were from the People's Liberation Army Navy, five from the CCG, and 28 from the Chinese militia.

Eleven Chinese ships engaged in intercepting our ships. One used a water cannon on ML Kalayaan. But after evading most of the harassment, they arrived at BRP Sierra Madre and delivered the supplies. There is no end to China's maritime bullying. Allies of the country have reiterated their support for the Philippines. A US Navy plane encircled the area over our ships, monitoring the situation. I hope they took a video of the events.

We can only be thankful to the PCG personnel for being brave and steadfast when bringing supplies to BRP Sierra Madre as well as having the restraint to respond to the harassments. I can't imagine if the PCG would respond in kind. What if our ships also had water cannons and used them? It will lead to an escalation where violence is employed and where someone gets hurt. What if that is the purpose of the CCG? Waiting for us to respond so they have a reason to use weapons? Or maybe even wondering how the US Navy will respond.

According to Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, he has doubts about the true role of the CCG. The duty of the Coast Guard is to save lives in the ocean, not to put them in danger. They act like a navy. That includes their maritime militia. The CCG is under the leadership of the People's Armed Police which in turn is controlled by the Chinese military. That may be the reason they act like they do. Training is military in nature. I'm worried that the events and incidents may lead to unpleasantries or even armed conflict. The world is messed up now. Some countries are desperate to get involved in war. All the more our guardians of sovereignty and peace must be ready for any eventuality. It is only right that the people’s money should go to agencies that deal with the security and sovereignty of the country, not to secret funds that the people have no way of knowing where these are spent.