Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. expressed his anger yesterday after getting a dose of China's water cannon treatment while aboard a private vessel on a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal on Sunday.

Brawner was aboard the Unaizah Mae 1 when it was blasted with water by a China Coast Guard vessel as it was on its way to the World War 2-era ship that was run aground at the shoal to serve as a permanent outpost.

"I was furious about what they did. I don't think they knew I was there. They did not know I was aboard, that's why they pushed that tactic," he said in Filipino.

The AFP chief said he had sought President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s permission to visit the troops stationed in the shoal to relay the Commander-in-Chief's Christmas greetings to the soldiers.

"We give importance to our troops on the BRP Sierra Madre, we give importance to their presence at Ayungin Shoal because it is a symbol of our sovereign rights in our exclusive economic zone," Brawner said in an interview on Monday.

He also underscored the huge contribution of all the troops stationed on the nine occupied features in the WPS in defending the country's sovereignty.

Brawner was the first AFP chief to visit the Sierra Madre amid China's continuing aggression.

In Palawan, the local government of Kalayaan condemned the latest actions of the CCG and its maritime militia against the civilian resupply vessels, including its own ML Kalayaan.

The statement, issued Monday morning by Kalayaan municipal information officer Ariel Carlos, highlighted the use of water cannons and obstruction tactics by China.

"We view with grave concern the harassment, obstruction, and deployment of water cannons against these vessels, putting the lives of their crew at risk and causing damage to their equipment. This act of aggression constitutes a blatant violation of Philippine sovereignty and international laws," the Kalayaan statement said.