RP defies China, says repairs on Sierra Madre to continue

From the Daily Tribune (Jul 17): RP defies China, says repairs on Sierra Madre to continue

The defense and military establishments yesterday justified and vowed to continue the repairs being conducted on grounded BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal in the disputed West Philippine Sea amid the protests done by Beijing.

Department of National Defense (DND) Public Affairs Service Director Arsenio Andolong also turned the tables on China, which he branded as the “troublemaker.”

“I think they are the troublemakers and not us,” said Andolong in reaction to China’s calling the Philippines as the “real regional troublemaker” for supposedly reinforcing the ship.

According to Andolong, the Philippines is not violating anything in conducting repairs of BRP Sierra Madre, which is a commissioned ship of the Philippine Navy.

“I don’t think it’s a violation of anything because Sierra Madre is a vessel, which any vessel at sea can conduct repairs on their own…considering that it’s a vessel commissioned by the Navy, it is well within its right to conduct simple repairs,” Andolong said.

“It’s like a home, you need to maintain it,” he added.

Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, Public Affairs Office chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), echoed Andolong’s statements, maintaining that what is being repaired in BRP Sierra Madre is living areas of the Marines stationed there.

“It’s very minor…it’s the sleeping area. It’s the moral obligation of the Navy to take care of its people,” said Detoyato.

Detoyato also branded China’s pronouncement that it is reserving “the right to take further measures” as a threat to the entire Filipino people.

“That is not threat to us (AFP), but rather threat to all of us,” said Detoyato, adding “they are allowed to say what they want to say.”

Beijing on Wednesday called for Manila to halt repairs on its crumbling ship serving as the Philippines’ lonely outpost in the disputed South China Sea, insisting that Beijing “reserved the right to take further measures.”

Meanwhile, amid the growing tension between the Philippines and China over the disputed West Philippine Sea, Filipino troops and United States Marines will start on Monday a three-week aviation assault training in Luzon areas.

Dubbed Aviation Assault Support Exercise, the three-week exercises are designed to expand and promote cooperative training opportunities Between the US troops and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to enhance core skill proficiency and to increase operational readiness in ground and air operations.

The US Embassy said that the participating US troops belong to the 1st Marine Air Wing, 3rd Marine Division.

On the other hand, the Filipino troops are composed of elements of the Philippine Marine Corps and the Philippine Air Force.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/rp-defies-china-says-repairs-on-sierra-madre-to-continue