Manila Philippines — P60 Million is the amount charged by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to China due to the damaged military equipment after the incident that happened in Ayungin Shoal on June 17.
AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. he includes these demand into a letter he forwarded to the Department of National Defense (DND).
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. is said to be set to forward the letter to the Chinese government.
“In my letter I demand the return of seven firearms, those guns were taken by the China Coast Guard in boxes, because those weapons were boxed so they just picked up the ones seven rifles and they destroyed our equipment and when we estimated the cost of the damage its PHP60 million,” said Brawner.
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Aside from returning seven rifles seized by Chinese Coast Guard personnel from military troops, two rigid-hull inflatable boats were also damaged by CCG personnel.
The AFP is asking China to pay the cost of treatment for Seaman First Class Jeffrey Facundo’s severed finger due to the incident.
In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry asserted that the Philippines is conducting an illegal ‘resupply mission’ which is said to be against China’s territorial waters.
China also said that their personnel only acted to defend what they called China’s sovereignty.
China even warned the Philippines to face retribution for its actions in waters claimed by China.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has not yet made a statement, but with the recent conclusion of the 9th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM) between the Philippines and China, the Philippines asserted the country’s position in Ayungin Shoal.
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