The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced on Friday, February 2, the success of their recent resupply mission at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
JUST IN: AFP tagumpay sa pinakahuling resupply mission sa BRP Sierra Madre sa Ayungin Shoal ngayong araw. | via @ednielparrosa, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/ZNMTphfwWT
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) February 2, 2024
As reported live by Edniel Parrosa during DZRH Operation Tulong, a high official from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed in a defense press conference that they used an airdrop method to deliver supplies to the soldiers on the grounded ship.
“Today, we executed a flawless rotation and resupply operation for BRP Sierra Madre,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla said.
“Teamwork, precision, and dedication at their best,” it furthered.
The rotation and resupply (RORE) mission intended for the Ayungin Shoal last January was postponed after one of the vessels tasked with the mission had "technical difficulty."
BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded at the Ayungin Shoal since 1999. A dozen marines and sailors are aboard the ship, which has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory.
It can be recalled in 2023 when the Philippines experienced numerous harassments from the China Coast Guard and its maritime militia to the Philippine Coast Guard fleet conducting a resupply mission.
The Philippines is still condemning the illegal acts of China, noting that the sea is located inside the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
