MANILA – The Philippine civilian mission to reach at the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) was a success, organizer Atin Ito Coalition said on Thursday.
According to Atin Ito co-convenor and Akbayan president Rafaela David, they were successful in breaking through the blockade of Chinese vessels to reach Bajo de Masinloc and provide aid to fishermen.
“Despite China’s massive illegal blockade, we managed to breach it, reaching Bajo de Masinloc to support our fishers with essential supplies. Mission accomplished!” David said in a statement.
She added: “This stands as a testament to the ingenuity, resourcefulness and bravery of the Filipino spirit amidst formidable challenges.”
Around 200 volunteers and 100 fishermen aboard five wooden bancas and 100 smaller boats set sail from Masinloc in Zambales on Wednesday en route to Panatag Shoal, which is also called Scarborough Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc.
Prior to the official start of the civilian mission, an advance team set sail on Tuesday and arrived 25 to 30 nautical miles of the general vicinity of Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday.
“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,” David said.
Apart from providing supplies to fishermen in the area, Atin Ito also laid out 12 symbolic orange buoys painted with the words “WPS ATIN ITO!” (The West Philippine Sea Is Ours!).
According to reports around 43 Chinese vessels, including a warship, moved to Scarborough Shoal in an attempt to block the Filipino civilian mission.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.
In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in Hague, The Netherlands ruled that China’s claims over South China Sea have no legal basis, a decision Beijing does not recognize./PN
