The Philippines' military chief General Emmanuel Bautista on Monday, Feb 24 told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines that China's coastguard had fired water cannon at Filipino fishermen for the first time to drive them away from the disputed Scarborough Shoal. He said "The Chinese coastguard tried to drive away Filipino fishing vessels to the extent of using water cannon," on January 27 near Scarborough Shoal. He did not say whether there were any casualties. Chinese Embassy spokesmen reportedly could not be contacted for comment.