The morale of FIlipino troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea remains high, even as they await a rotation and resupply mission following the violent June 17 incident.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine Navy’s Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), emphasized the troops’ resilience during a press briefing at the Philippine Air Force headquarters in Pasay City.
“Their morale is high. I know this personally, as stated by the commander of the Western Command. Many troops are eager to serve on the BRP Sierra Madre and eight other features,” Trinidad said in Tagalog.
Trinidad assured that supplies for the troops at the naval outpost remain sufficient. He confirmed that the last resupply mission was conducted on June 17, with the most recent activity being the medical evacuation of a navy personnel on July 7.
The June 17 incident marked the most violent actions by the China Coast Guard (CCG) in the area, leading to the “looting” of disassembled high-powered guns and causing one of the Philippine Navy servicemen to lose a thumb.
“We would like to thank the US Ambassador and United States for their continued support of our troops deployed in the WPS,” added Trinidad. US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson recently met with the Filipino troops on BRP Sierra Madre via video conference.
In a related update, Trinidad confirmed that CCG vessels conducted an intrusive patrol near the Lubang Islands off the coast of Mindoro on Sunday.
The Navy monitored the continuous passage west of Lubang Island, 60 nautical miles from mainland Luzon. They informed the Coast Guard, Naval Forces Northern Luzon, and Naval Forces West, he said.
Despite the ongoing maritime tension, Trinidad noted a slight decrease in the number of Chinese vessels in the WPS over the past month, possibly linked to recent de-escalation talks between Manila and Beijing.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Spokesperson Col. Margareth Padilla reiterated the illegality of China’s activities in the area.
“We reiterate that China’s activities in our waters are illegal and violate international law, we will continue active monitoring and strengthen our presence in WPS to protect our territory and our rights,” Padilla stated.
