Photo credit: PCO

In a recent statement, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. expressed strong condemnation over the latest confrontation at Ayungin Shoal, emphasizing that the incident was a deliberate act by Chinese officials to obstruct Philippine operations.

Speaking after a visit to troops in Palawan, Secretary Teodoro underscored that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reaffirmed non-disclosure of RORE schedules and described the Ayungin incident as neither a misunderstanding nor an accident. "It was an aggressive and illegal use of force," he declared, addressing reporters.

Despite the escalation, Secretary Teodoro maintained the government's commitment to seeking peaceful resolutions to the ongoing maritime dispute.

"We see the latest incident in Ayungin not as a misunderstanding or an accident but a deliberate act of Chinese officials to prevent us from completing our mission," Secretary Teodoro stated firmly.