THE Chinese Embassy in Manila has released an audio recording contradicting the claim made by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) West Philippine Sea spokesman Commo. Jay Tarriela that the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) provided no information resulting in the rescue of a distressed Filipino fisherman off Zambales. Tarriela received flak from netizens, who accused him of “lying” and issuing misleading statements. The audio, which circulated widely online on Tuesday, captured a radio exchange in which a vessel identifying itself as Chinese warship 174 repeatedly called for immediate assistance from a PCG ship for what it described as “your country’s vessel” at coordinates 14°33’6” North, 118°51’9” East — an area in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). In the transmission, the Chinese warship stated the fisherman’s engine was broken, and that water and food had already been provided, before urging the recipient to “please organize assistance immediately.” The call was acknowledged by the receiving ship. The contents of the recording contrasted sharply with Tarriela’s earlier public statement, in which he said the PCG “received no prior information from the PLAN regarding the location or condition of the Filipino fisherman who reportedly received this assistance.” Tarriela had acknowledged that the Chinese Navy gave the fisherman “a bottle of water and three packs of biscuits,” but he stressed that the fisherman was not adrift for days and was instead safely moored to a floating aggregate device, or payao, while awaiting pickup by his mother boat. He also warned against what he described as possible Chinese propaganda, reiterating Manila’s position that Filipino fishermen have the right to fish around Bajo de Masinloc. The release of the audio, however, fueled skepticism online, with many netizens stating the radio call undermined Tarriela’s assertion that no advance information was relayed. On Facebook, reactions ranged from calls for a simple expression of gratitude to outright accusations of dishonesty. Some users questioned why the Coast Guard spokesman appeared to downplay the Chinese Navy’s role, while others said the audio suggested clear coordination efforts. ”Jay Tarriela sinungaling ka ba (Are you a liar?)?” one commenter wrote, while another said, “The fact is that the fisherman was saved by the Chinese.” Others argued that Tarriela’s response was unnecessary or poorly timed, with some saying the issue should have been addressed by the Department of Foreign Affairs rather than the Coast Guard. Several commenters also pointed to Tarriela’s earlier explanations about a “HELP ME” sign reportedly used by the fisherman, stating that available visuals did not support claims that the fisherman feared the Chinese Navy. Tarriela did not immediately respond to questions regarding the authenticity of the audio or whether the PCG acknowledged receiving the transmission cited by the Chinese Embassy.