MANILA -- Smoke seen from the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea was due to a fire drill, an official of the Philippine Navy said on Tuesday. 

Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the fire drill was held on February 28 as part of the Navy’s regular operational exercises.

“These are designed to ensure the survivability and operational readiness of our warship,” Trinidad told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

China on Saturday accused the Philippines of polluting the environment after it released footage showing smoke coming from the BRP Sierra Madre.

China alleged that Filipino troops stationed on the ship burned rubbish, “posing a serious threat to the ecological environment of the surrounding waters.”

Trinidad admitted that the smoke “incidentally went beyond what they [Filipino troops] were intending to exercise” but clarified that it was immediately put under control.

He stressed that there was no damage to the environment due to the drill. Troops on board the ship were also safe, he added.

“It was a fire drill. They usually use combustible materials, usually, yung madaling masunog na materials. It so happened ne because of the strong winds na napakalakas, but they were able to put everything under control,” Trinidad said.

He went on, “There was no problem. The men of the ship are always prepared to respond to any eventuality.”

AFP: 260 vessels monitored in West PH Sea in February

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported that 260 vessels were monitored in the West Philippine Sea in February.

Of the number, 19 were identified as vessels of the People’s Liberation Army Navy and China Coast Guard monitored in Ayungin Shoal, Escoda Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc.

“Emphasis is given to these three features as they are very important in protecting our exclusive economic zone,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said on Tuesday.

“Their persistent illegal presence in the West Philippine Sea blatantly disregards the 2016 Arbitral ruling and infringes upon our sovereignty and sovereign rights,” she added.

Padilla said the AFP remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding international law and defending the integrity of the country’s national territory.