Philippine sailor on South China Sea outpost under investigation for drug use

A Philippine Navy personnel who previously served aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, one of Manila’s most sensitive military outposts in the China-sea" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="8346" data-entity-type="location">South China Sea, is under investigation over alleged illegal drug use, sources have told This Week in Asia.The 34-year-old sailor was also involved in resupply missions to and from the grounded warship, which has long served as an Philippines" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="19015" data-entity-type="organization">Armed Forces of the Philippines outpost at the Second Thomas Shoal, which Manila calls the Ayungin Shoal.One source who tipped off This Week in Asia said the case was being handled quietly by the military as a “national security concern”, given the role of Sierra Madre in Manila’s efforts to maintain its presence at the contested shoal, which Beijing also claims as within its nine-dash line in the China-sea" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="8346" data-entity-type="location">South China Sea.