It was neither a "misunderstanding" nor an "accident," with Filipinos forced to use their bare hands to fend off Chinese coast guard personnel who boarded their boats and resorted to "illegal use of force" to stop them from completing a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, officials said yesterday.
In a joint statement, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., National Security Adviser Eduardo Año and acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro also stressed that the Philippine government would never seek permission or consent from anyone in performing its sworn duties, including the sending of supplies to Filipino troops stationed on the Sierra Madre.
"We see the latest incident in Ayungin not as a misunderstanding or an accident. It is a deliberate act of the Chinese officialdom to prevent us from completing our mission," according to the joint statement, read by Teodoro in a press briefing at Malacañang.
"After our visit to our troops in Palawan yesterday, where the President personally talked to the troops involved in the RORE (rotation and resupply), we have now come to a conclusion that it was not a misunderstanding or an accident," the statement read.
Teodoro also said there will be no prior announcement of RORE missions, contrary to a recommendation of the National Maritime Council to President Marcos.
"The President has reiterated that we will not publish schedules of any RORE," Teodoro added.
"We will continue our rotation and resupply missions on a regular basis, the welfare of our troops in the BRP Sierra Madre being a matter of utmost importance," Teodoro said.
The officials issued the statement three days after Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin told a Palace press briefing that the Ayungin incident last June 17 was "probably a misunderstanding or accident," not an armed attack.
This story is from the June 25, 2024 edition of The Philippine Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 25, 2024 edition of The Philippine Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BDO introduces digital innovations
Sy-led BDO Unibank Inc. has introduced self-service machines and other digital innovations in its physical branches nationwide as part of its strategy of combining digital and physical banking channels to make financial services more accessible for Filipinos.
Tiu returns as president of Phl Infradev
Businessman Antonio Tiu has returned at the helm of listed Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc. after resigning from the post last year.
Citi sees 150 bps rate cuts in 2 years
Global banking giant Citi expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to cut borrowing costs by a total of 75 basis points this year and another 75 basis points in 2025, which will provide support to the Philippines’ economic growth.
middle-income Phl to attain upper status by late 2025, says NEDA
The Philippines remains on track to achieving upper middle-income status by late next year after exceeding its gross national income (GNI) per capita target last year, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.
EDC switches on P7-B geothermal plant in Albay
Energy Development Corp. (EDC), the renewable energy (RE) arm of Lopez-led First Gen Corp., has switched on its 28.9-megawatt (MW) geothermal plant, valued at around P7 billion, in Manito, Albay.
CNPF hikes spending to support expansion
Century Pacific Food Inc. (CNPF), the listed food and beverage firm of the Po family, is hiking its capital spending this year to fund capacity expansion projects to support the company’s double-digit growth target for the year.
Say hello to wheat straw cups
Tzu Chi Foundation, which originated in Taiwan, has scheduled a charity run on July 21 for one, three, five and 10 kilometers at the UP Diliman campus.
Security Bank to double green, sustainable loans
Security Bank Corp. plans to double its new sustainable loans to about P80 billion by the end of 2025 as it seeks to take advantage of the growing financing needs for the country’s green transition.
Citizen scientists mobilized to protect Verde Island Passage
The Verde Island Passage (VIP), one of the country’s marine treasures, has received invaluable help from the Lopez Group, which organized an 18-member team of citizen scientists.
Phl, 4 Asian countries to link instant payment systems
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and its global partners have completed the blueprint for the third phase of its Nexus Project and is now preparing for the final phase, which includes the live implementation of cross-border payments connectivity globally.