No plans to reinforce PHL troops deployed off Ayungin Shoal

From the Philippine News Agency (may 23): No plans to reinforce PHL troops deployed off Ayungin Shoal

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Thursday said that there are no plans yet to reinforce the Marine contingent keeping watch off Ayungin Shoal.

The Filipino presence is located on BRP Sierra Madre, a landing ship tank which ran aground off Ayungin Shoal some years ago.

"(We have a diplomatic case filed at the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), we want a status quo on that," Gazmin said.

He was referring to the fact the Philippines owes absolute rights to the area and should be respected by such by other foreign governments, China included.

Gazmin also expressed his opinion that the massive presence off Ayungin Shoal is but a ploy to scare the Philippines.

"That might be their message but we will fight up to the last soldier for what is ours," he added.

Gazmin added that resupply missions to the Filipino contingent will go on as schedule despite the ongoing tensions.

"We will be using an unarmed Navy ship for our resupply and replenishment missions to our forces there," he stated.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=527133