Despite Chinese protests regarding ongoing repairs to make
the BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) more habitable to the Marine contingent deployed
in Ayungin Shoal, Defense spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez on Thursday
stressed that the country is doing nothing illegal as the grounded transport is
within Philippine territorial waters.
"The West Philippine Sea
in particular the Ayungin Shoal and surrounding waters which BRP Sierra Madre
is tasked to secure and protect is within Philippine waters," he added.
The BRP Sierra Madre is the Navy transport serving as the
Philippine outpost off the Spratly
Islands
It is located atop Ayungin Shoal(known internationally as
Second Thomas Shoal) having ran aground in 1999.
Earlier, the Philippine Navy (PN) admitted to making
"minor repairs" on the dilapidated transport to make it more
habitable.
"By conducting minor repairs in the vessel, the
Philippine Navy merely ensures that the men the renowned media firm described
as '...troops staying there struggling to survive extreme mental and physical
desolation.' would not be neglected," PN spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo
earlier said.
He also said that PN flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral
Jesus C. Millan prioritizes the welfare of personnel assigned in the front
lines.
"Be it ships in distant Kalayaan Island Group or the
Marines in the jungles of Sulu, Basilan, and Central Mindanao-- are attended to
does not violate any law or convention. It conforms to internationally accepted
principles of human rights," Arevalo said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=783389
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