Following a recent water cannon attack by Chinese forces on Filipino fishing boats that resulted in three injured fishermen near Sabina Shoal, also known as Escoda Shoal, some members of the House of Representatives expressed their condemnation of the incident.

According to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Jay Tarriela, the China Coast Guard used high-pressure water cannons that caused injuries to the fishermen, who sustained bruises and open wounds, while two indigenous fishing vessels also sustained significant damage.

Mamamayang Liberal Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima said the attack was utterly outrageous and concerning, as Chinese forces put the lives of Filipino fishermen who are just trying to make a living in danger.

“This is utterly outrageous and deeply concerning. Aside from the destruction of the boats and the denial of livelihood to our fishermen in our territory, the China Coast Guard put the lives of our countrymen in grave danger,” De Lima said in a statement in a mix of English and Filipino.

“This serious violation of our fishermen’s rights demands urgent and necessary action from the government. It is alarming that the China Coast Guard is now targeting the very boats of our fishermen with water cannons, and they might possibly do it again, which is why the government cannot simply allow and overlook this.”

The lawmaker lauded the PCG for rescuing the injured fishermen and emphasized that Escoda Shoal is inside the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines, further escalating tensions with China following earlier attacks on PCG vessels.

“Escoda Shoal is very much inside our EEZ. This is the first time China directly used water cannons on our fisherfolk. This is an escalation beyond the usual water cannoning of PCG vessels,” De Lima said.

“China is now after our civilian fisherfolk. This is all happening within our own EEZ. It is high time our Navy starts defending innocent Filipino civilians inside our own EEZ and expels the Chinese pirates,” she added.

Meanwhile, in an earlier joint statement, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V, Deputy Speaker Jefferson Khonghun, Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, and Rep. Ernix Dionisio commended the courage of the injured Filipino fisherfolk in pursuing their fishing grounds amid tensions, and thanked the PCG for its urgent aid.

“We express our deepest concern and solidarity with the wounded and bruised Filipino fishermen. Their courage in pursuing their traditional fishing grounds despite such threats embodies the resilience of the Filipino people. We pray for their swift recovery and stand ready to support any necessary assistance,” the group said in their statement.

The House “Young Guns” called on the international community to hold China accountable for its escalating aggression and urged a return to rules-based dialogue.

“Such provocative actions by the China Coast Guard violate international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award, which unequivocally affirm the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. These incidents undermine regional peace and stability and cannot be tolerated,” the group said.