By Junex Doronio
MANILA — The streetsmart adage “Kung gusto, maraming paraan” seemingly inspired a government official to consider aerial missions to resupply the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal to evade China’s aggressive maneuvers such as the use of water cannons.
On Tuesday (7 May 2024), Jonathan Malaya, assistant director general of the National Security Council (NSC), disclosed that they would make “certain adjustments” to its resupply missions to the World War Two-era ship BRP Sierra Madre which was deliberately grounded in Ayungin Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, since 1991 during the time of then President Joseph “Erap” Estrada.
“There is an operational mix that is available to us. We can do other types of resupply other than a naval resupply, we can do an airdrop, we can do other just to be able to resupply our troops and keep BRP Sierra Madre in working condition,” Malaya said when interviewed by ANC.
The NSC official further bared that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered the adjustments following the country’s latest resupply trip to Ayungin, which was met with water cannons from Chinese vessels.
“Those adjustments, of course, are there so that we are no longer placed in a difficult position when we do our resupply missions,” Malaya said.
However, the NSC official anticipated that China would continue to “intimidate” and use “scare tactics” against the Philippines.
Malaya cited Beijing’s claim of a “new model” it allegedly struck with Manila on easing tensions in Ayungin Shoal was not worth investigating because doing so the Philippines would “continue to fall into the trap of China.”
“The basis of this claim is simply the statement from the Chinese Embassy. We don’t even know who they talk to. All they say is they talk to Wescom (Western Command),” he noted.
Malaya stressed that they “will not be deterred” and “will do what is necessary to keep our troops supplied.”
(el Amigo/MNM)
