MANILA, Philippines — Seaman First Class Jeffrey Facundo, the Navy sailor whose thumb was cut off after a botched resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal on June 17, recounted China’s aggression, detailing that Chinese personnel seized their guns and threw corals at Filipino marines stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre.
It was the first time that Facundo spoke publicly about the incident on Tuesday — at the hearing of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
“We had been there for about five minutes at the [BRP] Sierra Madre when suddenly Chinese RHIB [rigid hull inflatable boat] arrived. I’m not sure if it’s their Coast Guard. And then what happened when after they arrived, without any warning, they just rammed us,” Facundo said in Filipino.