Nothing provocative about Ayungin resupply run -- AFP chief

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 1): Nothing provocative about Ayungin resupply run -- AFP chief

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista on Tuesday said there was nothing provocative about the efforts to resupply and rotate Marine troops standing watch over Ayungin Shoal.

This was in response to China's claim that the Philippines' resupply efforts last Saturday was provocative.

"We're not provoking China, we are just doing our job to resupply our troops in Ayungin Shoal," Bautista said.

And to show that the Philippines is not engaged in any hostile actions, the AFP chief added that a civilian ship was used to reprovision Filipino forces there.

The Marine contingent in Ayungin Shoal is based on the BRP Sierra Madre, a landing ship tank, grounded last 1999 to serve as headquarters of Philippine forces in the area.

When asked if the Philippines will continue its periodic resupply and rotation missions off Ayungin Shoal, Bautista said they will continue to "assert Philippine sovereignty in that place and we have every right to do that."

He also said that it is China who is provoking a lot of their Coast Guard and Navy ships who are in the area attempting to block Filipino resupply efforts as proven by events last March 9.

Bautista also commended the relieved Marines there for staying there for five months and doing a good job in securing the country's territory.

"We salute our Marines and we salute our sailors for a job well done for continuing to defend our territory," the AFP chief emphasized.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=631300