FACT-CHECK: PH forces did not use water cannons in West PH Sea, Tarriela confirms

CLAIM: Philippine military forces have also used water cannons against trespassers in the West Philippine Sea.

RATING: FALSE

During the third hearing of the House of Representatives on disinformation, a pro-Duterte vlogger made a false claim that Philippine forces had “used water cannons” at the West Philippine Sea.

The vlogger, Mark Lopez, made the controversial remark while he was being asked by Deputy Speaker David Suarez on his position on the maritime row.

“Tayo rin po nagwa-water cannon mister chair,” Lopez said on record.

It came after Lopez was called out for his tirades by Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela. 

Lopez had accused Tarriela of being a “US lapdog” for “protecting American interests” in the West Philippine Sea.

After a heated exchange, however, Lopez changed his statement and said he assumed that Filipino forces “could use water cannons” as a form of deterrence against other belligerent nations in the WPS.

PressOne.PH did not find any report of Filipino forces ever using water cannons against trespassers in the West Philippine Sea.

Last year, a Filipino sailor lost his thumb in an encounter with the Chinese Coast Guard. In a statement on X, Tarriela condemned the attack and called it a “blatant violation of international law.” 

In an exclusive interview after the House hearing on “fake news,” Tarriela stressed that the Philippines never deployed water cannons in the West Philippine Sea.

“Wala pa tayong winater cannon. Fake news ‘yun. In any incidents, wala,” Tarriela said. Hurt Allauigan

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