Watch: Chinese coast guard vessel rams civilian Philippine boat in South China Sea

On September 18, the Philippine Coast Guard announced they had seized 12.5 tonnes of ammonium nitrate and 130 cases of dynamite from a vessel docked in Palawan province. These explosive substances were found alongside detonation materials inside two trucks onboard a ferry that transported both cargo and passengers. Ammonium nitrate, a chemical commonly used in fertilizers, can pose significant risks if mishandled or mixed with explosives.

The coast guard revealed that the cargo had been "improperly declared," and emphasized that the seized items are presently in the custody of the Philippine National Police. They further stated that the coast guard would collaborate with the PNP to ascertain the involvement of the accompanying personnel in the shipment of the cargo.

As of Friday afternoon, it was not clear if any arrests had been made, and the name of the company involved in the incident has not been disclosed. A coast guard officer responsible for port safety was relieved of his duties to ensure an impartial investigation. The discovery of the explosives follows a series of deadly ferry accidents.

On September 9, an explosion in the cargo hold of the M/V June Aster near the resort area of Coron, Palawan, resulted in dozens of passenger deaths. In January, a triple-decker ferry carrying over 340 people sank off the southern Philippines, claiming at least 52 lives.