The Philippines will continue asserting sovereignty over its own territory as it did in the past, Malacañang said on Thursday, following the incident between the Chinese Coast Guard and Philippine vessels in the Ayungin Shoal.
Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said they received the reports from the Western Command in Palawan regarding the incident on Tuesday.
In the said event, three Chinese vessels "blocked and water cannoned" two Philippine vessels that were on their way to provide military personnel with supplies
Nograles said the Department of Foreign Affairs has acted "swiftly" and has condemned the incident.
"As we have in the past, we will continue to assert our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over our territory," he said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr., however, had a stronger warning against China following the incident.
"The acts of the Chinese Coast Guard vessels are illegal. China has no law enforcement rights in and around these areas. They must take heed and back off," he said in a statement on Thursday morning.
"We do not ask permission to do what we need to do in our territory," he later added.
The secretary said he already brought the matter to Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and his Chinese counterpart in Beijing.
The incident in the Ayungin Shoal also drew condemnations from various lawmakers, including Senator Risa Hontiveros, Richard Gordon, and Francis Pangilinan.
Pangilinan, in his statement, also stressed that the Philippines must not be sold to China.
