The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said on Tuesday that the routine follow-on rotation and resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal was successfully conducted.
The mission was able to deliver fresh provisions to the Philippine military personnel stationed on board the Sierra Madre, despite attempts by the China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia vessels to block, harass and interfere with the supply mission.
It was conducted by the Philippine supply ships Unaizah May 1 and Unaizah May 2, which were escorted by PCG vessels BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan.
The NTF-WPS said the routine mission to the Philippine outpost in the West Philippine Sea will continue regularly.
NTF-WPS chairperson and National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año lauded the “unfailing valor, determination, and professionalism exhibited by the men and women of our armed forces and coast guard.”
“The Filipino people owe them a debt of gratitude for their commitment to place their lives on the line daily to defend our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction throughout the expanse of the West Philippine Sea,” Año said.
The successful RoRe mission comes after a recent water cannon incident that heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing in the West Philippine Sea.
In that incident, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel blasted a water cannon at a Philippine supply boat near Ayungin Shoal. The Philippines condemned the incident, calling it a “clear violation of international law.”
The Philippines has overlapping claims with China in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines won a landmark ruling in 2016 awarded by an international arbitration tribunal that invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea. China, however, has refused to recognize the ruling.