The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has resupplied its troops stationed at the Ayungin Shoal, this time, hassle-free again.
Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, commander of the military's Western Command (WesCom), said that aside from food supplies, water and medicines, the Marine commandos stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre was also provided with maintenance and repair equipment.
The military deliberately ran the BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal to serve as an outpost for the Philippine Marines in a bid to assert Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.
Resupply missions in the area were met with difficulty in the past amid the presence of Chinese Coast Guard Ships that have been patrolling the contested areas in the South China Sea.
Carlos said they tapped commercial boats for the resupply mission.
"The Philippine Navy-contracted commercial boats safely entered and exited Ayungin Shoal using its usual entry and exit points. This is the 3rd consecutive resupply activity undertaken by the government with neither any escort nor untoward incident," said Carlos.
“The absence of Philippine Government escort vessels was deliberate. We are exhausting all available means to peacefully co-exist until all WPS issues are finally resolved," he added.
He said the move is part of the trust-building efforts in order to to exhaust all means to resolve the issues in the West Philippine Sea.
According to the crew of the supply boats, they noticed the presence of two China Coast Guard and five Chinese Militia vessels as they safely entered and exited Ayungin Shoal on their own.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Malapascua (MRRV 4403) was conducting patrol in the West Philippine Sea during the conduct of the resupply run.
"These continuing deliberate actions of Area Task Force West and WesCom aim to send a clear message that the Philippine Government will continue to sustain the morale and welfare of its sailors aboard BRP Sierra Madre while peacefully co-existing with the Chinese in the contested waters," said Carlos.
“Today’s successful operations only show that if we continue to engage our neighbors in peaceful and constructive dialogues, we will understand each other better. We look forward to more interaction with China as our two governments seek a peaceful resolution to this regional impasse," he added.