VERA Files
A YouTube video is claiming that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) had fired water cannons in the West Philippine Sea supposedly at a Chinese vessel. This is misleading.
While the headline and the video narrator made such a claim, the rest of the video showed another military drill off the coast of Bataan.
Uploaded on Nov. 28, days after a maritime drill took place near the coast of Bataan, the video carried this headline:
“NAKU PO LAGOT KAYO! PH Coast Guard GUMAMIT NA Ng Water Cannon Sa WEST PH SEA (Oh no, you’re in trouble! The Philippine Coast Guard already used water cannon in the West Philippine Sea)!”
The thumbnail showed a photo of a white vessel with a Philippine flag firing a water cannon at another white vessel marked by a Chinese flag. The flags were digitally added.
On the photo was a text saying “KAPAPASOK LANG NA BALITA! PH COAST GUARD GUMAMIT NA NG WATER CANNON SA WEST PHILIPPINE SEA! PILIPINAS HANDA NG PUMALAG! (This news just in! PH Coast Guard already used water cannon in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines is ready to fight back)!”
While the text is erroneous, the video shows footage and explains the purpose of the drill where the PCG used water cannons. The drill was not in the West Philippine Sea, as claimed, but was part of a towing and water cannon drill with the Japanese Coast Guard held on Nov. 20-24 in the waters off Lamao, Bataan.
Also, reverse image search found that the photo used in the thumbnail was originally uploaded by Reuters on Aug. 8 showing a Chinese Coast Guard ship using water cannon against PCG ships and two boats during a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre stationed in Ayungin Shoal on Aug. 5.
Uploaded by YouTube channel Terong Explained with 459,000 subscribers, the video has garnered 107,505 views and 2,600 likes. Facebook users also reposted the links.
VERA Files Fact Check has flagged this channel several times for spreading disinformation about China and the West Philippine Sea.
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