PH Navy airdrops supplies for Ayungin troops

From Rappler (May 3): PH Navy airdrops supplies for Ayungin troops

The bundles contain fast food, bottled water, assorted bread, canned goods, and magazines

AIRDROP: The Philippine Navy airdrops supplies for the troops in Ayungin Shoal a month since the tense rotation mission. Photo from Western Command

A Philippine Navy Islander aircraft airdropped on Saturday, May 3, supply bundles for troops stationed at the disputed Ayungin Shoal a month after the tense rotation and resupply mission last March.

"About 9:15 today, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) executed a supply bundle drop for our soldiers currently aboard BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal," the military said in a statement.

The bundles contained fast food, bottled water, assorted bread, canned goods, and magazines. These were supposedly donated by civilians. They also contained "letters of encouragement" written by students.

Philippines Marines are deployed to man the grounded World War 2 warship, BRP Sierra Madre, which serves as an unconventional naval detachment in the middle of the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Troops stay there between 3 to 6 months. China, which claims almost all of the South China Sea, has been demanding the removal of the ship. On March 29, the Chinese Coast Coard attempted but failed to block the Philippine Navy's rotation and resupply mission.

 

(READ: China harasses PH ship before pleading day and US helped PH Navy in Ayungin mission)

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT: Students write letters for the troops in Ayungin Shoal. Photo from Western Command

http://www.rappler.com/nation/57117-philippines-navy-airdrop-ayungin