During the press conference at “Kapehan sa Dapo” this afternoon, as the NTFWPS Deputy Spokesperson, I discussed four key points. First, I emphasized that the Rotation and Resupply (RoRe) mission will continue. Second, I reiterated that the RoRe mission is a regular, routine, and legitimate operation of the Philippine government. Third, I mentioned that the National Maritime Council’s policy recommendation to announce the schedules of upcoming RoRe missions is still awaiting approval from the President.
Lastly, I highlighted the importance of analyzing the incident in relation to the objectives of both the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Philippines. While our objective is to successfully carry out the resupply, the PRC’s intention is to block it at any cost. The released videos from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) demonstrate the desperate measures taken by the PRC, including the use of axes and knives to destroy the Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) of our AFP personnel. The PRC aims to prevent our troops from reaching LS-57 without the intent of an armed attack that could escalate into a larger conflict.
However, it is crucial to emphasize that our government condemns the illegal, inhumane, and barbaric actions of China’s so-called Coast Guard and its martime militia in violently interfering with our routine and legitimate resupply operations within our own Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
