Ang Pahayagan

MANILA – More senators on Wednesday expressed their “disgust” over the recent aggression by the Chinese Coast Guard to Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva described the latest incident, as well as previous aggressions of China against Filipinos, as “totally inhumane, illegal, and barbaric.”

Villanueva said he is set to file and sponsor a resolution urging the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to take “all necessary actions” to stop these incidents and update senators on the actions taken by the government.

“As one nation, let us set aside our differences and stand together in fighting these bullies. Encroaching our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and at the same time putting the lives of our kababayan (countrymen) in danger is simply unacceptable. We salute our Philippine Navy and the PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) for their gallantry, and the nation thanks them for their bravery in protecting our seas,” Villanueva said in his statement.

Another senator “enraged” by the incident is Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, who expressed her support for DFA’s lodging of a strong protest against the recent harassment.

She also urged the agency to expedite the filing of a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly that will call on China to stop its blatant violence in the Philippine waters.

“I also hope the DFA can gather our neighbors in Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam and Malaysia, to stand with the Philippines as we face common security threats and assaults by China,” Hontiveros said in a separate statement.

She said China should also “pay for the damages and injuries” caused by its water cannons against Philippine vessels and crew members, as well as the natural resources that were destroyed in WPS.

Wescom troops to continue WPS resupply missions amid challenges

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., told troops of the Palawan-based Western Command (Wescom) to continue persevering with their rotation and reprovisioning (RORE) and other missions aimed at ensuring the country’s sovereign rights despite challenges in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“What you are doing here has strategic implications. The whole world is watching us so let us continue with our determination and resolve to accomplish our mission and the conduct of our RORE operations,” Brawner said during his visit to the Wescom headquarters in Puerto Princesa City on Tuesday.

Brawner also checked on the condition of wounded personnel and awarded those who contributed to RORE missions.

Three military personnel were reported injured in the March 23 RORE mission to the Philippine Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) which was stationed in Ayungin Shoal last March 23, following a water cannon attack by the China Coast Guard on the civilian resupply vessel Unaizah May 4 (UM4).

Brawner was accompanied by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan during his visit to the Wescom headquarters.

The PCG is providing ships to escort the RORE missions to Ayungin Shoal.

Adjustments in resupply missions eyed

Meanwhile, Brawner said that RORE missions for troops manning the BRP Sierra Madre will continue as adjustments will be made for the next operation.

“Definitely, tuloy yung ating RORE mission dahil yung (our RORE missions will continue because the) BRP Sierra Madre is considered a commissioned Philippine Navy (PN) ship at mga nakatao po dito ay mga sundalo ng (those who man the ship are soldiers of the) AFP so it is our duty to continue bringing supplies to them to sustain them in their operations and to make sure that their morale, their welfare is taken care of,” he said in an interview with reporters at Wescom headquarters.

The AFP chief also said they are now talking with the PCG, PN, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and other government agencies on what steps to prevent a repeat of the March 23 incident.

“So we will be adjusting our operations but definitely hindi po namin pwedeng sabihin kung ano po yung mga adjustments na yun (but definitely, we won’t be telling anyone about those adjustments),” he stressed.

Brawner also said the March 23 incident is not only the “most dangerous” but also marks the first time that a Filipino resupply ship was prevented from closing in on the BRP Sierra Madre.

However, despite severe damage to the vessel and injuries to some of its crew, the AFP chief said the RORE mission was still classified as a “partial success” as they were still able to conduct a rotation of personnel and delivered some of the supplies through RHIB or rigid-hulled inflatable boat.

“But then again, we are all of course concerned because of the amount of aggressiveness that was shown during the latest resupply mission,” he added.

Based on reports, pressure from the CCG water cannoning against UM4 was so strong that it hurled bodily one of the crew aboard and injured him.

This crew member, however, hit a wooden partition that have prevented him from being thrown overboard. (Wilnard Bacelonia and Priam Nepomuceno- PNA)

(Photo from the Armed Forces of the Philippines)