BFAR Vessel Runs Aground in West PH Sea; China Coast Guard Aircraft Conducts Surveillance

A Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel ran aground at Hasa-Hasa Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Thursday morning while on a mission to distribute fuel subsidies. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed the incident on Friday. According to PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, the BFAR vessel, identified as BRP Datu Magat Salamat, ran aground in the shoal's shallow waters while approaching a group of Filipino fishing vessels to position itself for the distribution of fuel. The program was part of the government's "Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda Program" aimed at assisting fishermen in the Kalayaan Island Group. Filipino fishing boats present at the scene immediately attempted to assist the grounded BFAR vessel by providing initial towing assistance. However, these efforts proved unsuccessful due to the morning low tide and the limited pulling power of the fishing boats. In response, the PCG dispatched BRP Malabrigo from Buliluyan Port in Bataraza, Palawan, to the location. The vessel carried Coast Guard divers on board to aid in the operation. BRP Malabrigo arrived at the site around noon and successfully executed the towing operation. "At around 3:34 PM, BRP Malabrigo safely pulled BRP Datu Magat Salamat out of the grounding area despite rough seas, southwesterly winds of 22 to 27 knots, and large waves," Tarriela stated. Notably, during the rescue operation, a China Coast Guard (CCG) aircraft with tail number 11101 was observed conducting aerial surveillance of the grounded BFAR vessel. This observation underscores the heightened maritime activity and surveillance in the disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea.