Policy of announcing WPS resupply missions up to Marcos — Tarriela

Instituting a government policy to announce the Philippines' conduct of regular rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to its military outpost in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) will require the approval of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the WPS, said Saturday that he was tasked to clarify the matter, following the second meeting Friday of the National Maritime Council in Malacañang.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin heads the National Maritime Council, which Marcos created last March to strengthen the country's maritime security amid China's increased aggression in the WPS. Meanwhile, Tarriela's instructions came from National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, in his capacity as chairman of the National Task Force on the WPS.

"The policy recommendation that was mentioned by the Executive Secretary, being the chair of the National Maritime Council, is that we will be announcing the routine resupply operations, is subject to the approval of our President," Tarriela said at a news forum on Saturday.

Bersamin told Malacañang reporters on Friday that he saw nothing wrong with announcing RORE missions, which shall remain routinary and would be scheduled regularly.

"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 (There's nothing wrong with that)," Bersamin said earlier.

The council meeting was held after Marcos ordered concerned Cabinet secretaries to discuss with him the June 17 incident in Ayungin Shoal, which left seven Navy servicemen injured.

A source earlier told GMA Integrated News that unlike previous operations, this operation was conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), with the PCG providing discreet support. The PCG was later on called on for medical evacuation of the injured military personnel.

During the Saturday briefing, Tarriela said the AFP and PCG would be working together for the conduct of future resupply missions.

"Ang ating resupply operation po ay patuloy na gagawin ng Armed Forces of the Philippines at ng Philippine Coast Guard, katuwang po ang mga ahensya ng National Task Force [on the] West Philippine Sea," Tarriela said.

(Our resupply operations will continue to be conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard, with the agencies under the National Task Force [on the] West Philippine Sea.)

"Second, this resupply operation is, remains to be considered as an ordinary, legimate, and routine operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," he added.

Responding to a question if announcing RORE missions would mean informing China, Presidential Assistant for Maritime Concerns Andres Centino said that this means "that we assert our sovereign right and sovereignty in the area." — VDV/KG, GMA Integrated News