Tolentino: Tap international Red Cross in Ayungin supply mission

FILE PHOTO: Sen. Francis Tolentino. Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Tolentino recommended that the Philippine government seek an international committee’s assistance in the delivery of humanitarian aid and food supplies to troops in Ayungin Shoal at the West Philippine Sea.

The lawmaker wrote Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo to convey his suggestion.

“In view of the escalating conditions in the West Ph Sea, particularly near the Ayungin Shoal relative to our resupply missions, my humble recommendation is to seek the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) based in Geneva, Switzerland,” said Tolentino, chair of the Senate’s special panel on maritime and admiralty zones.

READ: US State Department: China used water cannons vs Philippine ships again

“The ICRC under the Geneva Convention can facilitate the necessary humanitarian aid to our Navy personnel living in BRP Sierra Madre and would pave the way for the delivery of the needed food supplies by our soldiers therein,” he added.

INQUIRER.net has sought the DFA’s comment on the senator’s recommendation, but the agency has yet to respond as of the posting of this story.

READ: China Coast Guard boarded PH ships during Ayungin mission – report

Tolentino’s suggestion followed the China Coast Guard’s latest aggression in the West Philippine Sea, near the Ayungin Shoal.

According to National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, China towed a Philippine vessel on a resupply mission to troops aboard BRP Sierra Madre on Monday, June 17.

The grounded BRP Sierra Madre is located on Ayungin Shoal, which is inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone

The United States has condemned the incident, saying it caused “bodily injury, damaged Philippine vessels, and hindered lawful maritime operations to supply food, water, and essential supplies to Philippine personnel within the Philippine’s exclusive economic zone.”

“Ayungin Shoal is 423.30 nautical miles from the Paracels, and 617.39 nautical miles from the Chinese mainland – clearly beyond the 200 nautical miles maximum maritime entitlement for an exclusive economic zone under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” the DFA earlier said.

“China cannot, therefore, lawfully exercise sovereignty over it,” it added.