MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan condemned in the strongest terms the China Coast Guard (CCG) and its maritime militia for their “illegal and reckless actions” against a Philippine government vessel near Pag-asa Islandon October 12, 2025.

Pangilinan described the firing of a water cannon and the ramming of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel BRP Datu Pagbuaya as “a brazen act of aggression” and “a deliberate assault on our sovereignty and on the Filipino people.”

“This latest incident adds to the growing pattern of Chinese hostility within our sovereign territory and Exclusive Economic Zone. It is an affront to the rule of law, to peace and stability in the region, and to the dignity of every nation that abides by international norms,” Pangilinan said.

He urged China to immediately cease its illegal provocations, respect the 2016 Arbitral Award and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and act as “a respectable and responsible member of the international community.”

The senator vowed to ensure that the Philippine Coast Guard and BFAR receive the resources and support they need to defend the country’s waters.

“To our fisherfolk who brave these waters despite constant intimidation, know that the nation stands with you. Your courage is proof that sovereignty is not just claimed—it is lived and defended every day,” he said.

Pangilinan also called on Filipinos to remain vigilant and united, stressing that the West Philippine Sea is “our heritage, our sustenance, and our responsibility to future generations.”

“We will never yield to bullying or fear,” he said. “The West Philippine Sea is ours—by law, by right, and by the unwavering spirit of a people who refuse to be cowed.”