Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said on Saturday that the Philippines must find another way to resupply BRP Sierra Madre amid the aggressiveness of China in the area.
"Talagang very aggressive ang mga taktika ng China kaya ang importante rito makahanap ng iba't ibang mga paraan yung ating Philippine Navy yung ating AFP (Armed Force in the Philippines) kung papano mare-resupply yung BRP Sierra Madre dun sa Ayungin Shoal," he told DZRH in an interview.
(China’s tactics are very aggressive so it is important that our Philippine Navy and Armed Forces of the Philippines find a way to resupply BRP Sierra Madre in the Ayungin Shoal.)
This comes after a resupply mission to military troops at the BRP Sierra Madre was aborted after Chinese Coast Guards ships attacked two Philippine vessels that were supposed to deliver the supplies.
The incident sparked condemnation from lawmakers and prompted Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro to protest to Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and his Chinese counterpart in Beijing.
Trillanes said to avoid similar standoffs, the government should deploy navy ships and choppers, as well as the Coast Guard to help in resupply missions.
"Pwede 'yan ipadala 'yung ating navy ships yung may helicopter-borne replenishment capability so pwedeng chopper po ang maghahatid ng supplies ng sa ganun hindi talaga nila mahaharang," he said.
(We can also deploy our navy ships with helicopter-borne replenishment capability. So the chopper could deliver the supplies so they will not be blocked.)
"Pwedeng mga coast guard din para kung gusto nila yung white-to-white ships approach para hindi ito aggressive," he added.
(We can also use the coast guard if they want white-to-white ships to approach so it would not be aggressive.)
According to the former senator, resupplying BRP Sierra Madre is the most pressing issue now and it could be resolved in a number of ways.
