PCG: China jammed PH drones during Bajo de Masinloc collision

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

MEDIA FORUM. Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela (left) speaks during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City on Aug. 16, 2025. Also in photo is Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday revealed it was unable to deploy drones during the Aug. 11 collision of two Chinese vessels in Bajo de Masinloc, citing possible signal jamming.

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said they believe China interfered with their drone systems to prevent documentation of the incident.

“This time around, we were not able to launch drones. It’s because we believed that Chinese was blocking our drones to take off,” Tarriela said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

“We were unable to fly the drone to record the incident and to document the illegal actions of the People’s Republic of China (PROC).”

He said it was the first time PCG encountered suspected electronic jamming in the area.

“We are now evaluating how we can still launch drones and prevent the PROC from disrupting our signals,” he said.

Tarriela stressed the Philippines was not responsible for the collision between a People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel and a China Coast Guard ship near Bajo de Masinloc.

He said tension arises only from Beijing’s “dangerous actions and illegal presence” inside the country’s exclusive economic zone.

“We’re not provoking anybody. The reason why there is tension because of dangerous actions and illegal presence within our exclusive economic zone,” he said.