Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
In what seemed like a repeat of their maiden mission last year, the 100-strong civilian convoy of advocacy group “Atin Ito” Coalition decided to return to safe shore upon encountering China’s blockade on Thursday, May 16, while en route to Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) for their second supply mission in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
However, the coalition still considers the mission a “success” as it revealed that an advance team it sent a day before the official mission started managed to breach China’s blockade and go near Bajo de Masinloc to bring a separate batch of provisions to the Filipino fishermen in the shoal.
The advance team — composed of 10 members from Akbayan Party, Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan (PKSK) and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) — sailed on the morning of Wednesday, May 14, and arrived 25 to 30 nautical miles from the general vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc on Friday, May 15, onboard a single fishing boat.
“They swiftly delivered crucial provisions, including fuel and food, to Filipino fishers working in the area. Their efforts resulted in the distribution of 1,000 liters of diesel and 200 food packs. This is despite a Chinese Navy ship with body number 175 constantly shadowing them,” Atin Ito co-convenor Rafaela David said.
This was similar to what happened during the inaugural civilian mission in December 2023, where Atin Ito’s smaller supply boat, ML Chowee, navigated past Chinese vessel harassment near Ayungin Shoal to deliver supplies to frontline workers on Lawak Island.
“Despite China’s massive blockade, we managed to breach their illegal blockade, reaching Bajo de Masinloc to support our fishers with essential supplies. Mission accomplished!” David said.
“This stands as a testament to the ingenuity, resourcefulness and bravery of the Filipino spirit amidst formidable challenges. China may possess larger and more vessels, and wield strong water cannons, but we possess a secret weapon: our ‘diskarteng Pinoy,’ which, when coupled with determination and love for fellow citizens and country, can surmount even the most daunting adversity,” David said.
She said the mission was still a “tremendous success” since they hit the three goals they set which are to conduct a peaceful regatta in WPS, deploy the floating markers, and distribute supplies to the fisherfolk amid the shadowing of Chinese vessels.
Emman Hizon, one of the organizers of the mission, said the convoy was not forced to retreat by China’s maritime force.
“Due to the success of its advance team reaching the vicinity of [Bajo de Masinloc] and distributing supplies, and due to reports received by our boat captains that there are no more Filipino fishers in [Bajo de Masinloc] after they were reportedly sent away by various Chinese vessels, the convoy decided to hold its last round of supply distribution in their current location and head straight to the Subic fish port to conclude their successful mission,” he said.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that it monitored China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel “4203” shadowing some boats belonging to the civilian convoy as of 6 a.m. at approximately 67 nautical miles west, southwest off Mangrove Point, Zambales or 58.4 nautical miles southeast off Bajo de Masinloc.
CCG 4203 sailed as close as two nautical miles from the Filipino boats so PCG ship BRP Bagacay came to the rescue of the shadowed boats and inched closer to protect them from the Chinese ship, the Coast Guard said.
Another CCG vessel with bow number “4108” was sighted by the PCG around 10:10 a.m. with an estimated distance of 3.2 nautical miles from the convoy.
People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warship “668 was also monitored by the PCG with an estimated distance of 4.6 nautical miles from the contingent.
Meanwhile, a total of 144 Filipino fishers received food and fuel from the Atin Ito convoy. Some fishermen also hauled in huge catch of fish during the mission.
“We have achieved so many things despite the extraordinary challenges,” David concluded.
— Martin Sadongdong
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
