PH successfully conducted RORE missions in WPS this December — Navy

The Philippine Navy said Tuesday it conducted rotation and reprovisioning (RORE) missions in nine islands in the West Philippine Sea this December.

At a press conference, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Roy Trinidad said it spotted four Chinese vessels during its RORE mission near Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, but no untoward incident happened.

“The AFP through [the] Western Command conducted a rotation of troops and reprovisioning of our forces on the nine island features from 03 December to 14 December. The activities were conducted successfully. There were no untoward incidents monitored,” he said.

“There were no untoward incidents monitored, however there were two Chinese Coast Guard and two PLA (People's Liberation Army) Navy ships in the vicinity… just in the vicinity doing nothing. No illegal actions, no coercive actions,” he added.

Trinidad said they conducted the RORE missions in the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, Lawak (Nanshan) Island, Parola (Northeast Cay) Island, Patag (Flat) Island, Kota (Loaita) Island, Rizal (Commodore) Reef, Likas (West York) Island, and Panata (Lankiam Cay) Island.

From January 1 to December 16, he said the Philippine Navy conducted more than 300 maritime sovereignty and surveillance patrol missions in the West Philippine Sea, more than 100 air surveillance flights, and more than 60 ROE missions in the nine island fissures. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News