Gov’t troops stationed in WPS get Christmas packages, including ‘lechon’

GIFT FOR THE FRONT-LINERS The Philippine Navy delivers “noche buena packages” to troops stationed at the grounded BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal and in the Kalayaan Island group (inset) where their presence asserts the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea amid China’s claims. The resupply missions were conducted from Dec. 3 to Dec. 14. —Photos from the Armed Forces of the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — With Christmas Day just over a week away, the Philippine Navy brought holiday cheer to Filipino troops stationed at remote outposts in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) by delivering “noche buena” packages.

The rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission was carried out between Dec. 3 and Dec. 14 at all nine detachments in the Kalayaan Island Group, including the BRP Sierra Madre, the grounded vessel that serves as a naval outpost in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

Photos provided by the Armed Forces of the Philippines showed members of the resupply mission to Ayungin delivering the Christmas packages and supplies, including lechon (roasted pig), while wearing Santa hats.

READ: RORE mission for BRP Sierra Madre completed

Aside from Ayungin, the Philippines occupies other eight features in the West Philippine Sea, namely: Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, Lawak (Nanshan) Island, Kota (Loaita) Island, Likas (West York) Island, Parola (Northeast Cay) Island, Panata (Lankiam Cay) Island, Patag (Flat) Island, and Rizal (Commodore) Reef.

“The highlight of our RoRe was the delivery of the noche buena packages for our troops. Their morale is high,” Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, said in a press briefing.

The Navy, he added, used “a different mix” of vessels in bringing the supplies to the different detachments, where airmen and sailors stand guard.

Trinidad said there was “no untoward incident” during the recent mission to Ayungin, but there were two Chinese coast guard and two navy ships keeping watch.

He stressed that they would keep performing their mandate in conducting patrols and resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea.

SPECIAL DELIVERY The holidays just got merrier for those deployed to BRP Sierra Madre, the country’s naval outpost on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, with the delivery of “noche buena” packs and “lechon” (roasted pig).

For 2024, the Philippine Navy carried out over 300 maritime sovereignty and surveillance patrol missions, more than 100 air surveillance flights, and more than 60 resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea, Trinidad said.

China claims nearly over almost the entire South China Sea, parts of which are also being claimed by other countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines. An international arbitral tribunal ruled in 2016 that Beijing’s claim has no basis under international law.