Apart from asserting Philippine sovereignty and territorial rights in the WPS, the civilian mission brought much-needed supplies to some 500 island residents, especially fisherfolk affected by skyrocketing fuel prices.
Making history once again, the Atin Ito coalition’s fourth civilian-led mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) successfully reached Pag-asa Island on Saturday, May 2, despite the shadowing and presence of at least three China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and a possible People’s Liberation Army Navy warship in the vicinity.
At 5:30 p.m., Captain Jorge dela Cruz of the MV Kapitan Felix Oca ordered an engine stop exactly 2.3 nautical miles south of Pag-asa Island, as they waited for the ML Chowee, a smaller boat that helped deliver food, fuel and school supplies and other goods in advance.
Apart from asserting Philippine sovereignty and territorial rights in the WPS, the civilian mission brought much-needed donations to some 500 island residents, especially fisherfolk affected by skyrocketing fuel prices.
Saturday night’s events on the island, organized by Atin Ito, included a meet and greet with local officials of Kalayaan, distribution of goods and a cultural concert led by Filipino rap collective, Morobeats.
Other activities, including an island tour, are expected to continue today before the mission’s scheduled departure in the afternoon.
As the Kapitan Felix Oca made its way to Pag-asa Island, the Philippine Coast Guard confirmed that CCG vessel 3103 shadowed the civilian vessel.
Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman on the WPS, said the CCG vessel was located approximately three nautical miles from the mission ship while it moved northeast of Pag-asa Island.
Some 10 nautical miles away from Pag-asa Island, two more CCG vessels were monitored, as CCG 3103 continued to shadow the Kapitan Felix Oca.
Atin Ito lashed back at China over its claims that the group’s missions to the WPS are failures.
“China said Atin Ito failed its mission, but from what we see it’s them that have failed in their mission to scare Filipinos,” Akbayan president Rafaela David told reporters.
“We’re already on our fourth mission. Which means it’s taken them years to try and scare us, but we continue to civilianize, regularize and normalize Filipinos sailing the West Philippine Sea,” she added.
“Actually, it’s historic that foreign and local media – for the first time – are able to do live coverage in the WPS. So, we are doing so many historic things. Tomorrow will be historic as well: it will be the first time there will be jet-skiing at Pag-asa Island which, of course, is part of the WPS,” David said.
The Chinese embassy in Manila earlier downplayed the success of Atin Ito’s three previous civilian missions, which all generally succeeded in its goals of sending fuel and supplies to fishermen and even holding a grand Concert for Peace at Sea in 2025 participated in by artists from various Asian countries.
“In recent years, Atin Ito has repeatedly attempted to carry out provocative activities under the pretext of safeguarding the Philippines’ territorial sovereignty, but all have ended in failure. China will continue to resolutely safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” the embassy claimed.
David, mission commander of the previous civilian missions as well as the fourth and current one, said it is the other way around.
“So, this means China has failed in their mission to scare and divide Filipinos. After all, there are many things that we can say are a ‘mission success:’ we are the very first to conduct a civilian mission in the WPS; also successful was the first peaceful parade at sea with 100 fishing vessels; another victory is the first ever historic peace concert in the territorial waters of Pag-asa Island,” she said.
“Actually, it’s historic that foreign and local media – for the first time – are able to do live coverage in the WPS. So, we are doing so many historic things. Tomorrow will be historic as well: it will be the first time there will be jet-skiing at Pag-asa Island which, of course, is part of the WPS,” David said.
“For us, we have won in our mission, and it’s looking like China is the one that lost in their attempts to scare us,” she said. – With an additional report from Andrew Ronquillo