BRP Sierra Madre (PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Philippines has mounted another rotation and reprovisioning (RORE) mission for Filipino troops aboard the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday.
"The RORE mission will involve two civilian contracted vessels (Unaizah Mae 1 and 4) supported by Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard ships," AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement, adding that the mission is ongoing.
He added that the RORE is a routine task to sustain military forces deployed in the WPS and maintain the Philippines' presence in its exclusive economic zone.
The mission also demonstrates the AFP's commitment to ensuring that every Filipino will rightfully benefit from this resource-rich region, Trinidad said.
The AFP earlier said that it conducted 28 RORE missions for its WPS detachments in the WPS in 2023, 14 of which are in the Ayungin Shoal.
Out of these 14 RORE missions, Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said three were met with harassment or water cannon blasts by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and maritime militia.
These harassments took place in August, November, and December RORE to Ayungin Shoal.
Trinidad also clarified that the presence of Chinese maritime militia ships in the RORE does not automatically mean illegal action or harassment.
1st RORE ship reaches BRP Sierra Madre
As this developed, Trinidad said Unaizah Mae 1 had accomplished its mission and had reached BRP Sierra Madre to deliver its cargo.
"Unaizah Mae 1 has accomplished her mission, she has reached LS-57, (while) Unaizah Mae 4 and the (Philippine) Coast Guard ships are still ongoing, we are awaiting updates on the final report on the status of the mission," he said during a press conference in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Tuesday.
Also, Trinidad said they have received reports of a collision between the Philippine Coast Guard ship, BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407) and a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel.
He said the mishap was caused by the "illegal actions of the CCG."
“Unaizah Mae 4 was also hit by a water cannon (by the CCG). We are still awaiting updates on the damage to Unaizah Mae 4," he added.
As of Tuesday morning, Trinidad said there are four CCG ships and 11 fishing vessels or possible Chinese maritime militia located off Ayungin Shoal.
Two PN ships, the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PS-15) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) were also keeping watch on the RORE mission.
These naval vessels were located some 10 nautical miles away from Ayungin Shoal. (PNA)
