By Junex Doronio

MANILA — China has become nastier as its “agents” boldly snatched the supplies intended for Filipino troops in the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

This was revealed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) which showed on Tuesday (4 June 2024) a video showing Chinese agents “snatching” the supplies it airdropped for Filipino troops on BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

“Because of that intent of the Chinese Coast Guard to get our supplies, they came very very close to the BRP Sierra Madre. From the point of view of our soldiers, this poses a danger, a threat dahil napakalapit na nila (because they were so close),”  AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said.

The AFP also bared that the Chinese agents used “dangerous” maneuvers after steering “very close” to Filipino soldiers.

For its part, the Philippine Navy said it presented a video to debunk the claim of Chinese state media that Filipino troops pointed guns at the Chinese agents on May 19, which the Philippine military denied.

“That is why there were videos, images of our soldiers carrying their guns but they, again I’d like to emphasize, they did not point their weapons at the Chinese. Meron po tayong sinusunod na rules of engagement. Alam po ng mga sundalo natin yan,” Brawner pointed out.

(el Amigo/MNM)

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)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Despite the insistence of China that Ayungin Shoal — which it calls Ren’ai Reef — is part of China’s Nansha Islands, National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya has stood firm that the Philippines remained committed to keeping the grounded BRP Sierra Madre world war two ship to assert its maritime claims to the area.

The NSC official said on Wednesday (3 April 2024) that the Philippines will continue to resupply troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

“Our commitment to maintaining BRP Sierra Madre will always be there. The Philippines will meet any attempt by China to interfere with the resupply missions in a fashion that protects our troops, both those doing the RoRe missions and those that are in LS-57,” Malaya stressed during a maritime forum in Quezon City.

He said the NSC was aware of the public’s frustration with the situation in Ayungin Shoal, where Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and maritime militia vessels have consistently used water cannons and executed dangerous maneuvers against Philippine supply vessels.

“I know the mood of the public is frustrated. We know the people are frustrated. We have made recommendations to the president about a host of responses to what is happening in Ayungin Shoal to address all these issues. No one is happy that our servicemen are getting hurt,” Malaya quipped.

China has also repeatedly demanded the removal of BRP Sierra Madre from the shoal, citing an alleged past promise by the previous Duterte administration.

Ex-presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Tuesday (2 April 2024) said that former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte made no specific “agreement” on Ayungin Shoal.

He claimed that the pact made with China was to “respect the status quo” in the entire West Philippine Sea.

For his part, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. pointed out the importance of accountability given the supposed “gentleman’s agreement” with China regarding the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

“While we realize that accountability is important in the issue of whether or not a so-called ‘gentleman’s agreement’ was forged with China regarding the BRP Sierra Madre and Ayungin Shoal, we, Filipinos, must not lose sight of the fact that the main threat to our rights in the WPS (West Philippine Sea) is the Chinese government’s illegal activities,” Teodoro said.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Despite the latest water cannon incident and the low on supply boats, the Philippines will continue regular rotation and resupply (RoRe) missions to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

This was declared on Thursday (07 March 2024) by Western Command Commander Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos who said the deterioration of government indigenous resupply boats will not affect the conduct of the regular RoRe missions.

“We have other options naman na pinag-aaralan namin,” Carlos said.

To recall, during the term of President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War 2 vessel, was deliberately run aground by Philippine troops on Ayungin Shoal in the Spratly Islands to serve as an outpost of the Philippine Marine Corps and to assert Philippine sovereignty.

“Hindi sila mauubusan ng pagkain, ng fuel, ng tubig. Kung ano man ang pangangailangan nila, hindi mangyayari ‘yun, ‘yan ang sinisiguro natin,” Carlos said.

Carlos earlier bared the Unaizah May 4, the Philippines’ newest and biggest resupply boat, was damaged after the Chinese Coast Guard hit it with a water cannon during the RoRe mission on March 5.

In a statement, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said two CCG vessels fired water cannons at the Filipino supply boat, Uniza May 4, “causing minor injuries to at least four personnel on board.”

(el Amigo/MNM)