Akbayan Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula arrives by jet ski at Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) on Sunday and raises high the Philippine flag. This was the Atin Ito activist coalition’s fourth mission to the West Philippine Sea, challenging China’s intrusion into Philippine waters. (ATIN ITO COALITION)
WEST PHILIPPINE SEA – The Atin Ito Coalition successfully completed its 4th civilian mission, with Philippine Coast Guard escorting it to ensure safety heading back to Manila as two Chinese Coast Guard vessels were shadowing the MV Kapital Felix Oca on Monday.
In an interview with reporters on Monday morning, Atin Ito Coalition leader Rafaela “Paeng” David said “ngayon ay dalawa na yung Chinese Coast na sinasamahan tayo at sinashadow. Simula pa po kagabi pala yun, 8 p.m. nung dumating yung Philippine Coast Guard, dumating din yung Chinese Coast Guard.
(“Now there are two Chinese Coast Guards accompanying and shadowing us. It started last night, at 8 p.m. when the Philippine Coast Guard arrived, the Chinese Coast Guard also arrived.”)
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David emphasized that Pag-asa Island is an integral part of Philippine territory.
“It is also clear to us that if we are mission accomplished, China’s mission failed. They are the ones who didn’t win by scaring us no matter how many times they shoved a coast guard vessel at us,” David said in English and Filipino.
According to Atin Ito, prior to the “patriotic jetski flag ride” on Sunday, a PLA Navy vessel bearing hull number 525, a Jiankai II-class (Type 054A) frigate, “maneuvered unusually close” to ML Chowee, which deployed the jetski.
The frigate neared ML Chowee, the vessel that deployed the jetski from MV Kapitan Felix Oca, within approximately 1,000 yards, and also came as close as two nautical miles from Pag-asa Island, particularly where the jetski ride was conducted.
The Philippines will host the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Cebu City from May 6 to 8, gathering Southeast Asian leaders to discuss regional cooperation, economic resilience, and sustainability.READ: Ahead of Asean Summit, Atin Ito mission pushes peace, sovereignty in WPS
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“It’s very important that they put this [West Philippine Sea] on the agenda and also rally other neighboring countries, to come together and show China that we do not accept this kind of behavior in our region,” said David.
“China is the one raising tensions, and for us, what matters is peace among our neighbors,” David added.
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Akbayan party-list Rep. Dadah Ismula said as a lawmaker she will bring the topic of the West Philippine Sea to Congress, adding that this matter needs to be prioritized by ASEAN.
Participants of Atin Ito’s fourth civilian mission are expected to arrive on May 5 at around 10 p.m. /gsg
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