BRP Sierra Madre crew in Ayungin Shoal safe amid bad weather — PH Navy

The crew of BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal are secured and safe despite the impact of the bad weather, according to the Philippine Navy on Tuesday.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said rough seas and above normal wind conditions were reported in WPS (West Philippine Sea) features.

“In our latest communication with our troops, including our nine features, they are fine. The sea has been rough, the winds have been above normal but the overall condition of the troops to include those on BRP Sierra Madre, they are safe and they are secured,” he said.

According to him, there are enough supplies for the crew of BRP Sierra Madre.

“The last rotary for BRP Sierra Madre was 20th of June. The supplies are designed to last more than the next rotary that is scheduled. This will also cover the other eight features,” Trinidad said.

“The military always has more than enough supplies for the projected rotation or next rotation missions,” he added.

Trinidad said there is no data available yet on the updated number of Chinese vessels in the area. But he said “historically because of weather disturbances, these numbers drastically drop.”

The World War II-era BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded in Ayungin Shoal since 1999. The ship has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory.

Ayungin Shoal is a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands. It is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is within the Philippines 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China has refused to recognize the decision. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News