Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday said that the military will continue to patrol Ayungin Reef as part of efforts to protect it from incursions. In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Lorenzana said that Filipino troops will sustain its patrol in the area. Ayungin forms part of the country’s group of islands in the hotly-contested Spratlys region being claimed by five other countries, including China. Ayungin is located near the Chinese – occupied Mischief (Panganiban) Reef which now serves as China’s forward base for its warships.

Wakefield, F. T. (2018, December 21). Regular military patrols in Ayungin Reef assured. Manila Bulletin, p. 2.