PCG drives away 4 Chinese ships in West Philippine Sea
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard is set to deploy aircraft and vessels to challenge and drive away Chinese research vessels conducting illegal marine scientific research.
Using Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection System, the PCG detected four Chinese research vessels operating in the vicinity of Philippine waters.
Based on the observed movements and activities of these vessels, the PCG determined that the Chinese are conducting marine scientific research without the legal authority or prior consent of the Philippine government, in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The PCG is closely monitoring their movements in accordance with Philippine laws, international maritime law and UNCLOS.
“In furtherance of the policy directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Philippine Coast Guard remains steadfast in safeguarding the country’s maritime domain,” PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said.
“We will not tolerate any illegal marine scientific research conducted without our government’s consent. We are deploying aircraft and vessels to challenge and drive away these unauthorized vessels to protect Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights,” he added.
Philippine flag planted on Sandy Cay
Taking China by surprise, the Atin Ito coalition, at the first light of dawn yesterday, planted the Philippine flag at Sandy Cay 1, a low-elevation sandbar less than three nautical miles from Pag-asa Island.
Escorted by the two Philippine Navy soldiers and three retired Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel, Akbayan Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula and student leader Matthew Christian Silverio, aboard two rubber boats and a rigid haul inflatable boat (RHIB), carried out an unannounced move to symbolically take over the feature.
At exactly 6:01 a.m., Ismula, who joined Atin Ito’s fourth civilian-led mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS), proudly planted the Philippine flag to establish claim, ownership and firm Filipino presence over the area.
The historic and symbolic feat was carried out despite the visible presence from a distance of two China Coast Guard vessels bearing body numbers 5101 and 3103, a People’s Liberation Army Navy guided-missile frigate known to frequent the vicinity of Pag-asa Island.
Silverio, secretary general of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, likewise planted Atin Ito’s flag in Sandy Cay 1, also known locally as Pag-asa Cay 2, in recognition of the coalition’s success in asserting Philippine sovereignty and territorial rights over the WPS.
Ismula said three Chinese boats tried to pursue their convoy which gave her and Silverio only about 10 minutes to plant the Philippine and Atin Ito flags before needing to rush back to Pag-asa Island port.
“There was a Chinese vessel that tried to pursue us. Maybe they were on alert because we stopped at Sandy Cay 1. It sent two motorized boats and one RHIB,” she said.
Ismula said the Philippine flag and Atin Ito flag were left on Sandy Cay 1 which the Chinese may or may not try to remove though the PCG also intends to retrieve the flags themselves to preserve them and what they now historically represent.
“The message we send today to them (China) is that the West Philippine Sea is ours and we must be able to come here freely,” she stressed.
As Ismula and Silverio’s convoy returned to Pag-asa Island port, Atin Ito volunteers formed a human chain to spell the words “Atin Ito” which was witnessed by island residents who are kickstarting their West Philippine Sea Festival or the 4th Pista ng Karagatang Kanluran.
Atin Ito’s fourth civilian mission to the WPS dubbed as “Balik Pag-asa” was declared a success after it reached Pag-asa Island Saturday night despite being shadowed by a CCG vessel throughout the two-day journey from Manila.
Two more Chinese vessels also tried to question and harass the mission’s mother ship, the MV Kapitan Felix Oca when it was nearing Pag-asa Island. The Chinese vessels issued at least three radio challenges claiming that China has jurisdiction over the area.
Upon setting foot on Pag-asa Island, Filipino rap collective Morobeats performed their patriotic Filipino rap song titled “Teritoryo.”
On Sunday morning, Atin Ito organizers led a medical mission and the official turnover of the fuel, food, school supplies and other donations.
Jet ski ride at West Philippine Sea
In the afternoon, Atin Ito, through Ismula, fulfilled the coalition’s promise to hold a patriotic jet ski flag ride in the WPS, something that former president Rodrigo Duterte said he would do if elected president in the 2016 elections.
With the Philippine flag flying majestically at the side of the watercraft, Ismula rode a jet ski around the crystal-clear waters of Pag-asa Island.
Ismula had vowed to do what Duterte failed to accomplish as a campaign promise, while proudly emphasizing that a Mindanaoan will fulfill the promise of a Mindanaoan.
Atin Ito coalition said Ismula’s jet ski ride during the fourth civilian mission to the WPS reflects the Filipino’s bravery amid the harassment and aggression by China.
MV Kapitan Felix Oca is now on its journey back to Manila and is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, expectedly while still being shadowed by Chinese coast guard vessels during the rest of the trip. — Michael Punongbayan, Pia Lee-Brago
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