MANILA, Philippines - The National Security Council (NSC) on Monday confirmed that the yellow bottles confiscated from Chinese fishing boats (sampans) operating around Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) had tested positive for cyanide threatening both marine life and the safety of the troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57).
In a press briefing, NSC spokesperson Cornelio Valencia Jr. said the Philippine Navy (PN) recovered the bottles on February 20 and October 24, 2025. These were sent to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for Forensic and Scientific Research and results “conclusively established” that the bottles contained cyanide - a highly toxic chemical known to cause severe and irreversible damage to humans and marine ecosystems.
“These laboratory findings remove any doubt as to the dangerous and unlawful nature of these activities. The deliberate use of cyanide raises serious concerns of the illegal and destructive practices and threatens our Navy personnel in LS-57, the fragile marine environment of the West Philippine Sea, and the livelihood of the Filipino fisher folks,” Valencia told reporters in a press briefing.
”Such actions, if proven intentional, constitute a blatant violation of Philippine environmental laws, as well as international maritime norms and obligations of states under the United Nations Conventions of the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS,” he added.
Valencia underscored that the use of cyanide in Ayungin shoal is a “form of sabotage that seeks to kill local fish populations, depriving Navy personnel of a vital food source.”
Moreover, long term cyanide exposure can damage the reef, which can ultimately compromise LS-57's structural foundations, Valencia said.
Ayungin Shoal is a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands located 105 nautical miles off Palawan well within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone. The feature is a high tension spot in the WPS occupied by the Philippine Navy aboard intentionally grounded vessel BRP Sierra Madre.
The NSC called the act of using hazardous substances in the area “irresponsible and unacceptable.”
The National Security Council has directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard and all relevant agencies to, strengthen patrols and take all necessary measures to prevent further environmental harm and safeguard national security interests in the area.
