Over 140 civilians are set to begin an unprecedented three-day voyage in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) beginning Sunday, Dec. 10, to bring Christmas gifts and show solidarity with government troops guarding the maritime features occupied by the Philippines in the tense waters amid an "escalation of tension" by Chinese vessels.
Around 40 volunteers from Atin Ito (This is Ours) Coalition, a group fighting for the country's rights in the WPS, arrived in El Nido, Palawan on Saturday, Dec. 9, onboard MV Kapitan Felix Oca, a 150-capacity civilian training ship manned by Captain Jorge Dela Cruz, as they completed the first leg of their journey. They departed Manila on Friday, Dec. 8.
The volunteers -- comprised of youth and student leaders, and fisherfolk representatives -- were fetched by smaller boats as they touched base with more than a hundred fishers in El Nido who will man 40 fishing boats that will join the civilian supply mission, said Rafaela David, president of Akbayan and convenor of Atin Ito.
The civilians were scheduled for a send-off ceremony on Saturday night in Palawan.
"The unprecedented three-day mission organized by the Atin Ito (This is Ours) Coalition seeks to assert Philippine sovereignty in West Philippine Sea in the face of increasingly aggressive Chinese intrusions into the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ)," David said in a statement issued by the coalition.
"This marks the commencement of a meaningful journey to support fisherfolk communities and front liners in the West Philippine Sea," she added.
Following the send-off, the Christmas convoy will set sail to the general vicinity of Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, Patag (Flat) Island, and Lawak (Nanshan) Island to distribute donations and supplies to navy, marines, and other troops stationed in the Philippine-occupied features.
Initially, David revealed that the coalition proposed to personally bring the Christmas goods to BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated Philippine Navy warship serving as a maritime outpost by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) inside Ayungin Shoal, but the National Security Council only allowed them on the vicinity waters of the atoll "due to security concerns."
The shoal is guarded by Chinese navy, coast guard, and maritime militia vessels.
In previous months, the Chinese vessels have performed dangerous maneuvers and shadowing, used water cannon and military-grade laser light, and harassed Philippine vessels that were delivering supplies to troops in Ayungin Shoal. In one instance, Chinese vessels collided with Filipino boats during a resupply mission which earned the ire of the international community.
As such, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) warned the coalition against the possible risks brought by the presence of Chinese vessels and the bad weather in WPS during the Christmas convoy.
However, the coalition remained firm in its stand to continue the voyage despite the possible harassment by Chinese vessels and the dangers of big waves and strong winds that they may experience.
"As we sail forth, let our collective commitment echo in the waves: the spirit of Christmas is not confined to festivities but resonates in our shared duty to improve their [troops'] living and working conditions," David stressed.
"It embodies our nation’s resilience and our peaceful but determined defense of our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Our voyage is a testament to the enduring strength of Filipino unity, even in the face of foreign aggression and intrusion within our beloved West Philippine Sea," she noted.
Atin Ito Coalition is comprised of civil-society organizations such as the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA), Center for Agrarian Reform for Empowerment and Transformation (CARET), Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan (PKSK), Team Manila Lifestyle, Akbayan Youth, and the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP).