WPS resupply missions should be announced —National Maritime Council

Following the June 17 Ayungin incident that injured a Filipino sailor, the National Maritime Council recommended to President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. that regular rotation and resupply (RORE) missions be publicized.

At a Palace press briefing, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said that among the recommendations include the announcement of the RORE missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, which shall remain routinary and will be scheduled regularly.

Bersamin believed that there was nothing wrong with announcing the RORE missions. 

''We just don't know that if the reason for this is there was no prior knowledge on the part of China that we were resupplying. They know that we had to resupply, that we were resupplying, it's just a normal routinary matter,'' Bersamin said. 

''So in the best interest of all parties, I think it was a wise decision for the President to accept our recommendation to publicize the schedule for activities without giving up anything. Wala namang masama doon, eh,'' Bersamin added. 

Asked for clarification if announcing RORE missions would mean informing China, Presidential Assistant for Maritime Concerns Andres Centino said this means ''that we assert our sovereign right and sovereignty in the area.''

Centino also said the Philippine government views the incident with concern, adding that this is the reason why the National Maritime Council convened this afternoon.

Asked about the reaction of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on the incident, Centino said Marcos has always been composed. 

''Immediately he asked the concerned Cabinet secretaries to discuss the matter with him, that's also the imprimatur why we had this National Maritime Council convened today,'' Centino said. —LDF, GMA Integrated News