Philippines to continue supplying grounded navy ship via sea

MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr (pic) said Tuesday (Oct 24) that delivery of supplies for BRP Sierra Madre will remain via sea despite continued harassment by China in the West Philippine Sea.

He explained that the use of helicopters to drop off supplies for military personnel stationed in the grounded Philippine Navy ship in Ayungin Shoal poses logistical challenges and, hence, may not be viable.

“We have tried that before, but the problem is it can only carry a few supplies,” Brawner said in a radio DZRH interview.

Brawner further said that they will heed the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to continue the resupply mission for the crew in the grounded World War II warship.

“The President ordered that our resupply mission continue because that is our obligation because we have soldiers there so we need to support them.”

The BRP Sierra Madre was deliberately grounded in Ayungin Shoal to serve as one of the Philippine military’s outposts to watch over the country’s exclusive economic zone. The shoal is located some 194 kilometers from Palawan province.

In 2014, the AFP evaded a Chinese sea blockade by using an airplane to drop food to a contingent of marines in the BRP Sierra Madre.

Beijing has been relentless in its claim that it owns most of the South China Sea through its latest 10-dash line, which overlaps the West Philippine Sea and Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.