By Priam F. Nepomuceno
MANILA, March 30 (PNA) — The successful mission to resupply and rotate the Marine contingent standing watch over Ayungin Shoal is an assertion of Philippine claim and sovereignty to the area.
This was revealed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Major Gen. Domingo Tutaan, Jr,.
“It’s an assertion of our claim to that territory and the mission to resupply the troops in the area,” he added.
This, despite efforts of the Chinese Coast Guard to block the resupply mission, he said.
The Philippine civilian ship was able to evade Chinese Coast Guard vessels by maneuvering in the shallow part of Ayungin Shoal.
The Marine unit was based at the BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57), an old Navy landing ship, placed near Ayungin Shoal to shelter Filipino forces in the area.
“At about 3 p.m. Saturday, the AFP on board a civilian vessel was able to resupply/reprovision and rotate troops aboard BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal,” AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala earlier said.
The ship was carrying rice, water, and canned goods which were immediately transferred to the BRP Sierra Madre.
Zagala did not comment on reports that two Chinese Coast Guard ships tried to prevent the Filipino ship from entering the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal.
An earlier attempt was blocked by Chinese law enforcement vessels sometime this month. (Philippine News Agency)
