MANILA, June 21 -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday rebuked the China Coast Guard (CCG) for accusing Manila of violating its so-called sovereignty in the South China Sea to justify its water cannoning of two local vessels off Zambales.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) deployed four ships to supply fuel and goods to Filipinos fishing near the Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal on Friday.

Two of the BFAR vessels, BRP Datu Tamblot and BRP Datu Taradapit, were water cannoned by CCG vessels 4203 and 3105, some 15.6 nautical miles (NM) and 18.1 NM off the feature.

"I would like to inform you that this is outside the territorial sea of Bajo de Masinloc and this falls within our own exclusive economic zone," ...