LEAVING A MARK Members of the "Atin Ito" Coalition place the symbolic buoys with markings “WPS Atin ito!” on the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone before pushing to the Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag Shoal) during the second civilian resupply mission to the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday. The civilian resupply mission aims to hand out fuel, food and other necessities to fisherfolk at the Bajo de Masinloc. PCG VIDEO
The aid mission of civilian group “Atin Ito Coalition” is already a victory for the Philippines even without the convoy reaching very close to the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official said on Wednesday.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), said the group could consider its job done once it managed to resupply Filipino fisherfolk in the area of the Bajo de Masinloc.
"The primary objective of the 'Atin Ito Coalition' is to provide aid to Filipino fishermen fishing (in the area of Bajo de Masinloc). Filipino fishermen generally do not mingle with the China Coast Guard," Tarriela said in Filipino on the sidelines of the Philippine Information Agency's press conference on the WPS.
Once a large grouping of Filipino fishing vessels were spotted and with no Chinese ships in sight, he said the "Atin Ito Coalition" could approach these ships and give them the aid.
On Wednesday, the group's convoy successfully installed buoys bearing the words “WPS Atin Ito” within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The group also completed the first round of distributing supplies, including fuel and food packs, to Filipino fishers.
The contingent is set to proceed to the second phase of its voyage, aimed at reaching Panatag Shoal for another round of supply distribution to Filipino fisherfolk in the area.
PCG escorts ‘Atin Ito’ convoy
The PCG dispatched two more vessels to escort the "Atin Ito" convoy to the Bajo de Masinloc to ensure the safety of the Filipino civilian movement.
Tarriela said the two vessels are in addition to BRP Bagacay that went ahead of the civilian convoy and would rendezvous with the group before it reaches Bajo de Masinloc.
“We also dispatched an aircraft to monitor the situation in Bajo de Masinloc,” Tarriela said.
To date, he said, the civilian convoy has already left Zambales and is on its way to the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In a Viber message to reporters, PCG spokesperson, Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, said the two ships are BRP Panglao and BRP Boracay – both 24-meter patrol fast boats.
“BRP Boracay is in Subic already. Padating na din si BRP Panglao (BRP Panglao is also on its way),” Balilo said.
He added that a PCG aircraft remains on standby to monitor the civilian mission.
Not sanctioned by PH gov’t
On the other hand, Tarriela clarified that the "Atin Ito" convoy is a civilian mission and is not sanctioned by the Philippine government.
“Itong desisyon ng Atin Ito na maglayag ay voluntary. Hindi natin pinilit, this is a civil society initiative (This decision of Atin Ito to sail is voluntary. We did not force them, this is a civil society initiative),” he said.
However, he said, PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan has ordered the dispatch of the PCG ships and aircraft as part of the PCG’s duty to safeguard Filipinos in the country’s waters.
“The PCG will make sure and do what it takes na ligtas ang ating mga kababayang Pilipino na naglalayag sa ating exclusize economic zone (to ensure the safety of Filipinos sailing within our EEZ),” he said.
He said the additional PCG vessels were dispatched in response to the unknown number of Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels that are currently awaiting the civilian convoy in Bajo de Masinloc.
“There’s no denying the fact that there are more CCG vessels deployed. Maco-confirm natin ang sinasabi ni (Sealight Director) Ray Powell na maraming nakabantay na CCG vessels dito (We can confirm Powell’s statement that there are several CCG vessels guarding the area),” he said.
The convoy to Bajo de Masinloc was organized by the Atin Ito Coalition that seeks to bring provisions to other Filipino fishermen in the area.
On its way to the shoal, the convoy is also planning on installing buoys marked with “WPS, Atin Ito (This is Ours)” in certain areas in the WPS.
Prayers sought
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) asked the faithful to pray for the group’s mission.
“Let us accompany the civilian supply mission to the West Philippine Sea with our prayers. Let us pray to the Lord that no untoward incident happens to the fleet of five civilian marine vessels and one hundred small fishing boats that are presently navigating their way through our exclusive economic zone to deliver fuel and food supplies to our fisherfolks in the vicinity of the Panatag Shoal,” CBCP president Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said in a social media post.
The Caloocan prelate also believed that the group only has good intentions in carrying out the mission.
“This is also a good test case of civilian supremacy over the military, which is essential in a true democracy,” he said.
David added such act is “a better way to express our unity as a nation and assert our sovereignty”.
The group's mission is set to wrap up on Friday.
98 Chinese ships detected in WPS
Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy (PN) monitored 98 Chinese vessels of various kinds in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from May 7 to 13.
Based on the data from the PN released on Wednesday, these sightings can be broken down into the following: eight China Coast Guard Vessels (CCGVs), two People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships and 18 Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMMVs) in Bajo de Masinloc; six CCGVs and 25 CMMVs in Ayungin Shoal; two CCGVs, two PLAN ships and 24 CMMVs in Pagasa Island; one PLAN and two CMMVs in Kota Island; one CMMV in Likas Island; four CMMVs in Panata Island; two CMMVs and one Chinese cargo ship in Patag Island.
These are lower than the 105 Chinese vessels sighted in these features from April 30 to May 6.
"There was a decrease from the previous week, from 129 pre-'Balikatan' to 108 just after 'Balikatan', down to 98 as of yesterday (Monday) so we see a downward trend," said Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the WPS. PNA
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