00:00Two Filipino fishermen were struck by lightning
00:03after their boat's engine exploded near Bajo de Macinloc.
00:07The Philippine Coast Guard, who responded to the incident,
00:10tried to stop the China Coast Guard.
00:13Jonathan Andal was there.
00:19The Philippine Fishing Boat, or FFB Akiyo,
00:23was about to sink when the Philippine Coast Guard pulled it out of the water
00:25after being struck by lightning.
00:27Its engine exploded near Bajo de Macinloc or Panatagshol
00:30at 9 a.m. yesterday.
00:32Eight Filipino fishermen were on board.
00:35Two of them had second-degree burns,
00:37so their skin was torn.
00:39They were immediately transferred to the PCG's BRP Sindangan
00:42and were given first aid by the Coast Guard nurse.
00:44According to the owner of the boat,
00:46the engine's explosion was a faulty wiring.
00:58They were taken directly to the SBMA
01:00and were taken to the hospital.
01:03We were told to rescue the boat
01:07and those who were injured.
01:09The rescue mission of the PCG took three hours.
01:14They tried to stop the China Coast Guard
01:16even though they said they would respond to the emergency.
01:19When we were about to go to the rescue,
01:22the China Coast Guard was there.
01:24That's why they went to the PLA Navy
01:26to attempt to initially block the MRRB
01:33of the Philippine Coast Guard, the BRP Sindangan.
01:36Vanilio said that the Chinese even threatened
01:39to arrest all the fishermen there
01:41if they don't help them.
01:43When the China Coast Guard explained,
01:45they let the PCG near the boat that was being rescued.
01:49There was also a report that they actually offered help
01:53and that they will launch a reef
01:55to rescue the fishermen.
01:58But the fishermen knew that we were already there
02:02and they did not rescue the China Coast Guard.
02:05According to the PCG,
02:07the incident is true that the Philippine boat
02:09was placed in the West Philippines
02:11and was ready to sink to our fishermen.
02:13But according to a group of fishermen in Zambales,
02:16they did not see the Philippine Navy boat
02:18in Baudimasinlok
02:19even though they asked to join the fishermen.
02:22That's why until now,
02:23they are only allowed to go to the side of Zambales.
02:26Later, they brought us to China.
02:28We don't know where China is.
02:30Later, they suddenly threw us in the sea.
02:33We have no enemies.
02:35We are just small boats.
02:37On June 15, China implemented the regulation
02:40to arrest anyone who illegally enters
02:42their waters and maritime borders.
02:45According to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines,
02:47the government is mandated to provide protection
02:49to the fishermen inside our EEZ.
02:52For GMA Integrated News,
02:54Jonathan Andal is on air 24 hours a day.
03:21For more UN videos visit www.un.org
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