Former senator Panfilo Lacson supports the rehabilitation of the BRP Sierra Madre, the aground Philippine Navy vessel in the Ayungin Shoal of the West Philippine Sea.
While he acknowledges that China takes offense in any attempt by the Philippines to repair the BRP Sierra Madre, Lacson stressed the need to ensure the safety of the Filipino troops stationed in the aground vessel.
"Kawawa rin yung mga marine contingent natin doon," Lacson said on Tuesday, July 2, during DZRH's Damdaming Bayan.
Lacson also mentioned that an attack on the BRP Sierra Madre, a commissioned vessel of the Philippine Navy, or any attempt to remove the ship by a foreign state will trigger the mutual defense treaty between the country and the United States, which China hopes to avoid.
"Hanggang ngayon, hindi iyon dini-decommission kahit kinakalawang na, hindi na nga operational. Medyo wise o smart yung move ng Philippine Navy, kasama na yung Philippine government, na hindi ito i-decommission," Lacson said.
"Kung decommissioned iyon, baka matagal na siguro tinanggal iyon doon," he added.
Last June 17, the Chinese Coast Guard once more hampered the rotation and resupply (RORE) operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to BRP Sierra Madre, and one Philippine Navy personnel even lost their finger during the incident.
Chinese troops rammed a Philippine government supply ship, and waved bladed weapons to disrupt the RORE operations of the Philippines.
China claims sovereignity over majority of the West Philippine Sea, including Ayungin Shoal, even though a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejected the claim of the country over the region, and ruled in favor of the Philippines.
BRP Sierra Madre has been in the Ayungin Shoal since 1999.
