Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela denied China-backed CCTV report claiming a China Coast Guard ship “towed” a Philippine vessel in Ayungin Shoal.

The same report also claim that confrontation ensued in Ayungin Shoal between two coast guard.

The same video have also made rounds on several social media pages showing the undated confrontation.

Tarriela described this as false information, noting that the videos could already be a year old and from their previous operations.

“Wala tayong na-monitor na ganitong insidente. Para sa amin, these are old videos and photos na nilabas nila ngayon. We don’t know the motivation of the Chinese Coast Guard why they released these old videos,” Tarriela said.

Asked if this is misinformation being spread by China, he answered in the affirmative.

“Obviously this is another form of information or fake news na pinapakalat ng Chinese Coast Guard to weaken ang paninindigan ng ating bansa pagdating sa ating position sa West Philippine Sea,” he said.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said he and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr. have yet to see the circulating video online.

“Tingnan muna natin kung totoo o hindi bago tayo magplano,” Teodoro said.

Among the latest encounters between the Philippines and China in the West Philippines Sea was when a China Coast Guard fired a water cannon and sideswept a Filipino government vessel collecting sand for a research project in April.