Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Monday issued a strong condemnation of what he called “illegal and reckless” actions by Chinese forces following a confrontation in the West Philippine Sea on 12 October.

Pangilinan slammed the China Coast Guard (CCG) and its maritime militia for firing water cannons and ramming the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, a vessel operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), near Pag-asa Island. 

The incident occurred within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is recognized under international law.

“[A] brazen act of aggression,” Pangilinan declared. “It was a deliberate assault on our sovereignty and on the Filipino people.”

The BRP Datu Pagbuaya was reportedly on a routine patrol to support Filipino fisherfolk in the area when it came under harassment by Chinese vessels. No injuries were reported, but damage to the vessel and heightened tensions in the area have raised alarm among Philippine defense officials.

Pangilinan warned that the latest provocation fits a “growing pattern of Chinese hostility” and constitutes an affront not just to the Philippines but to “peace and stability in the region” and the “dignity of every nation that abides by international norms.”

He reiterated calls for China to honor the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its expansive claims in the South China Sea and to respect the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 

The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling, which China has consistently rejected, affirms Philippine sovereign rights over the area.

“We call on China to immediately cease these illegal and dangerous provocations,” Pangilinan said, urging the international community to hold Beijing accountable for its actions.

The senator also pledged to push for greater funding for the Philippine Coast Guard and BFAR during the ongoing budget deliberations, saying these agencies need sufficient support to “patrol, protect, and persevere.”

Addressing Filipino fisherfolk who continue to operate in contested waters despite intimidation, Pangilinan offered solidarity.  “Your courage is proof that sovereignty is not just claimed—it is lived and defended every day.”

He then called for Filipino’s vigilance and national unity. 

“The West Philippine Sea is our heritage, our sustenance, and our responsibility to future generations. We will never yield to bullying or fear,” Pangilinan said.

“The West Philippine Sea is ours—by law, by right, and by the unwavering spirit of a people who refuse to be cowed.”