‘Atin Ito’ advance team reaches Bajo de Masinloc, gives aid to fishers

FILE: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) at Barangay Bula, General Santos City, on 15 January 2023. (Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/Facebook)

MANILA – The “Atin Ito Coalition” on Thursday announced that its advance team had managed to breach the Chinese blockade at Bajo de Masinloc (also known as Scarborough Shoal) and succeeded in delivering fuel and food packs to Filipino fisherfolk in the area.

In a social media, post, the group said their advance team departed for Bajo de Masinloc on Tuesday morning, ahead of the departure of their main convoy on Wednesday.

The “Atin Ito” main convoy consisted of four large fishing boats and 100 smaller bancas.

“The 10-member advance team comprised of members from Akbayan Party, Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) arrived 25-30 nautical miles of the general vicinity Bajo de Masinloc on May 15,” the group said.

It added that the advance team immediately handed over crucial provisions, including fuel and food, to Filipino fisherfolks working in the area.

Some 144 Filipino fisherfolk from six mother boats and 36 small fishing boats benefitted from this effort.

“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,” the group said.

It added that this feat mirrors the success of their December 2023 inaugural civilian mission, where the group’s smaller supply boat, M/L Chowee, navigated past Chinese vessels’ 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!” said Akbayan president Rafaela David, a co-convenor of “Atin Ito”.

She 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.

“Tagumpay po tayo! (We succeeded!) This mission is a tremendous success. We have achieved so many things despite the extraordinary challenges. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas at ang mamamayang Pilipino. West Philippine Sea, atin ito! (Long live the Philippines and the Filipino people. The West Philippine Sea is ours!” she added.

The last remaining boats of the civilian convoy are now returning to Subic, Zambales after completing their three-day resupply mission.

In a situation update on Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said BRP Bagacay — one of the escorts of the civilian mission — was with four Filipino fishing vessels (FFV) in waters 67.4 nautical miles (NM) off Magalawa Island at around noon.

These vessels included FFV John with 26 crew and 25 passengers, FFV Aguian with seven crew and 18 passengers, FFV Paty with nine crew and 14 passengers, and FFV BingBing with 29 crew and 29 passengers.

The last activity of the convoy was at 11:40 a.m. when the four FFVs stopped for a short prayer led by a priest onboard FFV BingBing.

Since 10 a.m., BRP Bagacay spotted three Chinese vessels in their vicinity — Chinese Coast Guard Vessel (CCGV) 4108 with a distance of 3.2 NM from the convoy, CCGV 4203 with an estimated distance of 1,400 yards, and People’s Liberation Army — Navy (PLA-N) 668 with an estimated distance of 4.6 NM.

At around 11:20 a.m., CCGV 4203 continued shadowing the convoy and maintained a distance of 1,100 yards.

On Wednesday, BRP Bagacay reported multiple sightings and shadowing activities by Chinese vessels on the Atin Ito convoy.

These included shadowing by CCG 4108 and CCG4109 with a distance of 1,800 yards and 1.3 NM respectively.