Kalayaan mayor harassed by suspected Chinese vessels near Ayungin Shoal

From the Philippine News Agency (May 17): Kalayaan mayor harassed by suspected Chinese vessels near Ayungin Shoal

While on his way back to mainland Palawan early Wednesday morning, Kalayaan Mayor Joel Bito-onon said they were harassed by two foreign vessels in the disputed West Philippines Sea near Ayungin Shoal.

In an interview Friday, Bito-onon told the Philippines News Agency (PNA) that about 1 a.m. on May 15, while on board M/V Queen Seagull, the vessel owned by the municipal government of Kalayaan, two foreign vessels which he believes are owned by the Chinese harassed them near Ayungin while they were sailing back to mainland Palawan through the municipality of Balabac.

He disclosed that while they were sailing near Ayungin, the two vessels followed them with strong search lights on. One of the vessels, whose bow mark he failed to see, was only 30 meters away from them.

Bito-onon furthered claimed that while near Ayungin, they also saw a large boat that appears to be a navy ship of the Chinese anchored on the reefs.

Over a week ago, fishermen reported that two Chinese military surveillance vessels were seen off Ayungin Shoal in the disputed chain of islands. Apparently, the Sino surveillance vessels were seen some six nautical miles west of Ayungin since May 7.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=525591