AFP: Latest Ayungin resupply mission was ‘unobstructed,’ ‘very successful’
MANILA, Philippines — “Unobstructed” and “very successful” was how Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Friday described the latest resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
The latest resupply mission was conducted after China’s alleged seizing of food and other supplies for Filipino soldiers last May 19.
“Very successful po ‘yung ginawa nating last rore or resupply mission pero hindi na po natin na natin babanggitin yung mga detalye. But it’s enough to say that we will continue bringing supplies to our troops, we will continue rotating our troops — in all the features that we are occupying in the West Philippine Sea and we will continue to protect our territory and our sovereign rights,” said Brawner in an ambush interview.
(The last rore or resupply mission we did was very successful, but we will not mention the details anymore. But it’s enough to say that we will continue bringing supplies to our troops, we will continue rotating our troops — in all the features that we are occupying in the West Philippine Sea and we will continue to protect our territory and our sovereign rights.)
READ: AFP: PH won’t be deterred, intimidated by China’s ‘anti-trespassing’ policy
In the same interview, Brawner was asked whether other forces attempted once again to seize the supplies, to which the AFP official said there was none.
“Walang nang agaw. We made sure na hindi na po maaagaw yung mga supplies natin, but at the same time we are also careful na hindi naman mag escalate yung situation dahil hangarin po ng ating Armed Forces — ng ating bayan, as stated by our President, is that dapat ay pigilan natin ang giyera,” he emphasized.
(It was unobstructed. We made sure that our supplies would not be seized, but at the same time we were also careful that the situation did not escalate because the desire of our Armed Forces — of our people, as stated by our President, is that we should prevent war from happening.)
Apart from allegedly seizing goods for Filipinos, reports likewise claimed that China “obstructed” a medical evacuation of ailing soldiers.
Both incidents took place last May 19, when the Philippine Navy performed an airdrop operation to bring the items to the BRP Sierra Madre.
China’s continued aggression in Philippine waters is borne out of a sweeping claim over most of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.
It, however, has long been dismissed by an arbitral tribunal.
