'Atin Ito' to carry out patriotic jetski ride in WPS

The Atin Ito civil society coalition’s fourth civilian-led mission to the West Philippine Sea will arrive in Pag-asa Island tomorrow in another historic attempt to not only bring food and supplies to residents but also carry out a “patriotic jetski flag ride” by a congresswoman who vows to fulfill a failed promise of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

- By MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

Aboard the MV Kapitan Felix Oca, Akbayan Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula from an indigenous group in Zamboanga will take on the challenge of riding into the sea while proudly waving the Philippine flag to assert the country’s sovereignty and territorial rights over the Kalayan Island Group.

“Mindanao made the promise, and a Mindanaoan will fulfill it,” she said in a message during the send-off ceremony yesterday where she expressed both excitement and concern over her decision to join the trip to Pag-asa Island by sea and bring not only fuel, food and other supplies but also hope to residents of the municipality of Kalayaan.

"This morning when I woke up, I said this is it. This is the day we set sail. Last night when we registered, it had yet to sink in that I was really part of this mission," Ismula said, adding it all somehow felt real when she boarded the boat yesterday morning.