WPS civilian convoy reaches Panatag today

The Atin Ito Coalition's second civilian supply mission to the West Philippine Sea is expected to reach Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal today, where the China Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels have reportedly set up a blockade to stop the convoy from reaching its main destination.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

At least three Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels have been deployed to monitor the activity along with a Philippine Navy warship also in the area at an undisclosed location and distance.

Yesterday afternoon, the convoy led by five small civilian boats successfully reached waters outside the 12-nauticalmile territorial waters of the Philippines and planted buoys within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The mission also distributed food, fuel and other supplies to some 100 fishing boats that joined the first phase of the trip to Panatag Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc.

"Atin Ito is now in EEZ and has successfully deployed symbolic buoys/markers bearing the message: WPS, Atin Ito! Atin Ito's main civilian boats are now distributing supplies ... to Filipino fishers in our EEZ," organizers led by the Akbayan Party announced yesterday.

"(A hundred) small fish boats will go back to Masinloc. Five civilian boats will continue to go near the vicinity of BdM for second round of supply distribution. That is where things could get ‘interesting,’ ” Atin Ito said, referring to Bajo de Masinloc.

Early in its civilian supply mission to the WPS, the coalition said it has executed its three main objectives – “conducting a peace and solidarity regatta comprised of five civilian marine vessels and 100 small fishing boats in our EEZ, placing symbolic buoys/markers… and completing the first round of distributing supplies…”

The group did not identify where these activities were held.

“The Atin Ito contingent will now proceed to the second phase of its voyage, aiming to reach the vicinity of Panatag Shoal for another round of supply distribution to Filipino fisherfolk in the area,” the organizers announced.