Malacañang said it has yet to come up with definitive proof that the arrests of three Filipinos in China were Beijing’s retaliation for the recent rounding up of several alleged Chinese spies in the Philippines, even while it did not close the door on the possibility.
The Palace’s statement came on the heels of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reporting that one of its vessels barely escaped a collision with an aggressive Chinese ship, underscoring the strained relations between the two Asian states.
“There is no concrete evidence yet if it is really retaliation or a part of retaliation of the other country,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro told reporters in a briefing on Monday.
“We will not say that [it was not retaliatory] because there is no final investigation on that matter [yet],” she added.
When asked if President Marcos had issued specific guidance on the matter, Castro confirmed that he had directed agencies to ensure full support for the detained Filipinos.
“There is always an instruction to help our Filipino citizens abroad facing this kind of charges,” the Palace spokesperson said.
“Legal assistance will always be given. All the necessary help and assistance will be provided,” she added.
Castro said the government is deferring to the Departments of Foreign Affairs and National Defense for updates, as investigations are still ongoing.
Earlier, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año raised concerns that the accusations of espionage leveled against the three Filipinos, whose names have not been officially released, may be retaliatory.
Chinese state media later aired edited video clips allegedly showing the individuals confessing to espionage activities.
Philippine government officials pointed out that the footage appeared scripted and riddled with inconsistencies.
Meanwhile, maritime tensions flared up again when a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel executing “reckless and dangerous maneuvers” nearly collided with the PCG’s BRP Cabra.
In a statement released Monday, the PCG said the CCG ship came dangerously close to the Filipino vessel, raising navigational safety concerns.
“An alarming incident this afternoon involved an attempted head-on collision with the smaller PCG vessel,” PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said of the encounter that happened near Capones Island in San Antonio, Zambales.
He noted that such actions violate the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), to which both the Philippines and China are signatories.
Despite the incident, PCG said the BRP Cabra continued its patrol and monitored the Chinese vessel, which later moved to a position approximately 92 to 96 nautical miles from Capones Island.
“It is only through the seamanship skills and professionalism of the crew of BRP Cabra (MRRV 4409) that such a collision was narrowly averted,” according to the PCG.
For his part, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan reiterated his directive to all Coast Guard personnel deployed in the WPS to maintain their presence in a manner that affirms Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights without escalating tensions.
