Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Thursday that government troops will continue to patrol Ayungin Reef as part of efforts to guard the atoll from incursions.
Lorenzana said that Filipino troops will continue their activities on Ayungin Reef also to strengthen the country’s islands.
“Nagpa-patrolya tayo regularly, so we will continue on strenghtening our islands,” Lorenzana said.
“Meron tayong siyam na islands. The people at the Sierra Madre Landing Ship Tank will still be there, continue pa rin ‘yung ating replacement saka replacement ng tao regularly plus ‘yung re-supply nila that will continue.”
“We will still patrol and we will keep on protesting kung meron tayong nakikita mga acitons ‘yung Chinese not consistent with our national interest. We are going to protest China,” he added.
Lorenzana said that there are plans to improve the living conditions of soldiers posted on Pag-Asa Island, Palawan.
He also said that the island’s beaching ramp is 42 percent finished.
“We just continue what we are doing now, and that is to fortify or improve the living condition, the quarters of our troops. Spread sila lahat eh, meron tayong tropa sa lahat ng ating islands na occupied natin,” he added
Ayungin Reef forms part of the country’s group of islands in the hotly-contested Spratlys region being claimed by five other countries, including China.
It is located near the Chinese occupied Mischief or Panganiban Reef which now serves as China’s forward base for its warships. Both reefs are located near Palawan. (Francis T. Wakefield)