In an interview, Brawner said the thumb of Seaman First Class Underwater Operator Jeffrey Facundo was reattached sometime in September and is fully functional. He said the procedure to reattach Facundo's thumb was performed free of charge by doctors from the Makati Medical Center Foundation. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILANMeanwhile, China has yet to respond to the Philippines' demand for payment for the equipment damage and losses incurred when the China Coast Guard (CCG) harassed Manila's rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal in June. Ayungin Shoal is a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is within the Philippines 200-mile exclusive economic zone. Since 1999, the BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded in Ayungin Shoal to serve as an outpost for Filipino troops and a symbol of Philippine sovereignty.

Source: Manila Times November 04, 2024 19:07 UTC