Navy ship resumes supply mission to West Phl Sea

A Navy supply ship is back on its mission to deliver provisions to Pag-asa Island, days after engine trouble forced it to stop for repairs in Balabac island in Palawan.

Western Command (WesCom) spokesperson Capt. Cheryl Tindog said the BRP

Laguna (LT-501), a logistics vessel, reached Pag-asa Island on Wednesday, or three days after leaving Balabac where it had stayed since Feb. 10 for repair of one of its engines.

“BRP Laguna resumed its re-supply mission on Feb. 14 upon completing repairs,” Tindog said.

She said the vessel arrived at the Rizal detachment on Commodore Reef on Feb. 6, or two days after leaving Puerto Princesa City in Palawan last Feb. 4 for Pag-asa.

While en route to Pag-asa, Tindog said the BRP Laguna developed engine trouble, prompting its crew to maneuver the vessel to Balabac for repairs.

WesCom chief Vice Adm. Alexander Lopez said the supply ship had already unloaded supplies for Pag- asa Island civilians and its military contingent and was on its way to rescue a Filipino fisherman whose boat capsized due to bad weather.

Quoting reports, Lopez said the fisherman is currently staying on Singkau Island controlled by Vietnam.

Vietnamese fishermen rescued the Filipino who reportedly lost three companions.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has voiced “grave concern” over reports of China’s deployment of surface- to- air missiles on Woody Island.

“Such actions negate China’s earlier commitment not to militarize the South China Sea,” the DFA said in a statement yesterday.

“These developments further erode trust and confidence and aggravate the already tense situation in the region,” it added.

The DFA said China’s action was “a clear violation” of the Declaration of Conduct and other relevant statements issued jointly by Beijing and the Association of South East Asian Nations ( ASEAN).

Furthermore, the deployment of the missiles “has put into question the good faith of China to work with ASEAN for the early conclusion” of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea, the DFA stated.

It said the deployment has also cast doubt on China’s commitment “to cooperate in the efforts of all parties to find ways forward on the peaceful settlement of disputes” in accordance with the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.

DFA spokesman Charles Jose said they are considering sending an official correspondence to China to convey the Philippines’ “grave concern” over the latest developments in the South China Sea.

“We are studying carefully the possibility of taking such action,” Jose told The STAR in a text message.