MANILA, Philippines – Ayon sa Philippine Navy, ang People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ng China ay nag-deploy ng tugboat malapit sa BRP Sierra Madre sa Ayungin Shoal sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) noong Lunes.
Sa isang press briefing noong Martes, sinabi ni Philippine Navy spokesperson para sa WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, na hindi ito dahilan para ma-alarma.
“While this is not a cause for alarm, it is not also a reason for us to be prepared for them to tow away BRP Sierra Madre. It will take more than a tugboat to pull out BRP Sierra Madre,” ani Trinidad.
“Our assessment is that this is more for their own use in the event that they would need a tugboat to pull out any of their ships that would run aground in the shallow portion of Ayungin Shoal,” dagdag niya.
Itinuro ni Trinidad na ang PLAN ay nag-deploy ng tugboat para sa kanilang sariling “defensive purposes.” RNT/MND
