Matagumpay na pinangunahan ni Captain Alan M. Javier ng AFP Western Command, Joint Task Force ang pagpasok at paglabas ng commercial boat na inarkelahan ng Philippine Navy upang magsagawa ng re-supply mission dala ang mga pagkain, tubig, gamot at iba pang supplies sa BRP Sierra Madre LS57 na nakabase sa Ayungin Shoal nitong Oktobre 5, 2022.
Nabatid na ito na ang ikatlong beses na pagpasok at paglabas gamit ng Philippine Navy sa Ayungin Shoal upang maihatid ang supplies ng pamahalaan.
Sa pahayag ni Vice Admiral Alberto B. Carlos PN, Commander of the AFPs Western Command (WESCOM), “The absence of Philippine Government escort vessels was deliberate. We are exhausting all available means to peacefully co-exist until all WPS issues are finally resolved. Our current thrust is part of the trust-building efforts we are undertaking in response to the guidance of the President to exhaust all means to resolve the issues in the West Philippine Sea. Hence, continuing dialogues with Chinese authorities is one such approach.”
Ayon naman sa mga tripulante ng commercial boats, napansin nila ang presensya ng dalawang (2) China Coast Guard vessels at limang (5) Chinese Militia vessels, ngunit nagpapasalamat ang mga ito na ligtas silang nakapasok at nakalabas ng Ayungin Shoal.
Kasabay nito, nagsagawa ang Philippine Coast Guard BRP Malapascua (MRRV 4403) ng pagpatrolya sa West Philippine Sea habang naghahatid ng resupply run.
Ang patuloy na aktibidad ng Area Task Force West at WESCOM ay naghatid naman ng malinaw na mensahe na ang pamahalaang Pilipinas ay patuloy na nagsisiguro ng kaligtasan at kaayusan ng kalagayan ng bawat isang duty sailors aboard BRP Sierra Madre habang nagpapatuloy ang maayos na pakikipag-ugnayan sa kalapit na bansang Tsina ng Pilipinas.
“Today’s successful operations only show that if we continue to engage our neighbors in peaceful and constructive dialogues, we will understand each other better. We look forward to more interaction with China as our two governments seek a peaceful resolution to this regional impasse,” bilang pangwakas na mensahe ni Vice Admiral Carlos.