Marcos: No announcements of RoRe missions to Ayungin

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the non-disclosure of the military rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission schedules for troops stationed at Ayungin Shoal.

Marcos’ decision came after the National Maritime Council recommended last week the publication of RoRe schedules to the moored BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippines’ naval outpost in the West Philippine Sea.

“The President has reiterated that we will not publish schedules of any RoRe,” Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro said in a press conference on Monday.

READ: Marcos on sea dispute: Our drumbeat is peace

He then stressed that the country is committed to “defend our territory and exercise sovereign rights thereon as we see fit.”

“We reiterate that we seek neither permission nor consent from anyone in performing our sworn duties in the West Philippine Sea. In this regard, we will continue our rotation and resupply missions on a regular basis,” he also said.

This frame grab from a handout video taken on June 17, 2024, and released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office on June 19 shows an aerial view of a Philippine Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) (C) between two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels during an incident off Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippine military said on June 19 that the CCG rammed and boarded Filipino navy boats in a violent confrontation in the disputed waters this week in which a Filipino sailor lost a thumb. China defended its actions, with its foreign ministry saying on Wednesday that “no direct measures” were taken against Filipino personnel. (Photo by Handout / ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES-PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE / AFP)

READ: Teodoro: China’s ‘dangerous, reckless’ behavior to be resisted by AFP

On June 17, the China Coast Guard rammed and towed Philippine vessels near Ayungin Shoal, which is also known as Second Thomas Shoal.

The Philippine ships were on their way to bring supplies to troops at the grounded BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin.

A Philippine Navy sailor lost his thumb while several other naval personnel sustained minor injuries due to the violent incident.