Troops unload supplies including noche buena packages at the Parola station during the AFP's sustainment mission for all Philippine-occupied features in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from December 3 to 14, 2024.

MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines has brought Christmas supplies to its troops stationed at outposts in the West Philippine Sea during a rotation and reprovisioning (RoRe) mission conducted from December 3 to 14.

“Western Command vessels transported essential life support and sustainment provisions, efficiently conducting unloading operations. This mission delivered morale-boosting Christmas packages in line with the AFP’s 89th Anniversary,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday.

“The mission underscores the AFP’s commitment to ensuring the welfare of our sailors and marines stationed at our outposts and maintaining our presence in the West Philippine Sea. It also highlights our commitment to protecting our nation’s maritime domain,” she continued.

Military personnel approach the BRP Sierra Madre to deliver supplies and noche buena packages during the AFP's sustainment mission for all Philippine-occupied features in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from December 3 to 14, 2024.

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the mission to the nine Philippine-occupied features was conducted successfully.

He added, however, that they monitored the presence of two China Coast Guard ships and two People’s Liberation Army Navy ships in the vicinity of Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal, where the BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded.

“There were no untoward incidents monitored. However, there were two CCG and two PLAN ships in the vicinity… doing nothing, no illegal or coercive actions… near Ayungin Shoal,” Trinidad said.

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“Different vessels of the AFP, the PH Navy [were used]. A different mix of assets, considering we targeted the nine occupied features, the nine detachments. The highlight of the RoRe was the delivery of Noche Buena packages to our troops. Mataas ang kanilang morale,” he added. 

PH Navy holds over 500 maritime patrols, surveillance flights, resupply missions in West PH Sea in 2024