MANILA, Philippines- Nakaranas ang isa sa limang pangunahing bangka sa Atin Ito civilian mission sa West Philippines Sea (WPS) ng aberya sa makina nitong Miyerkules, ayon sa organizers.
Inihayag ng Atin Ito coalition na naayos na ang pangulong boat at nagpatuloy sa paglalayag sa civilian mission.
“The pangulong that had an engine problem was already fixed. It is still part of the civilian supply mission. All four pangulongs are committed to proceed to the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal),” pahayag ng grupo.
Halos 100 bangka ang lumisan sa Zambales nitong Miyerkules upang makilahok sa civilian mission, na naglalayong magsagawa ng “peace and solidarity regatta,” maglagay ng markers o buoys, at mamahagi ng suplay sa mga mangingisda.
Batay sa Atin Ito, naisagawa ng civilian mission ang tatlong pangunahing layunin nito.
“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,” pahayag ng Atin Ito.
Nakibahagi rin ang tatlong foreign observers sa civilian mission.
Itinuloy ng Atin Ito flotilla ang paglalayag sa pinagtatalunang katubigan sa kabila ng mga ulat ng malaking pwersa ng Chinese vessels patungo o kasalukuyang nasa Scarborough Shoal, ang iba pang tawag sa Panatag Shoal.
“When a superpower deploys a fleet of military vessels to act as a goalkeeper in a shoal it has no authority over, against a group of wooden fishing boats manned by Filipino civilians, it is unmistakably exposed as an aggressor, usurper and illegal occupant,” pahayag ni Atin Ito co-convenor and Akbayan president Rafaela David.
“China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea reveal not strength, but a glaring weakness. When it resorts to intimidating small, civilian fishing vessels with military might, it showcases a narrative built on fear rather than legitimate authority,” patuloy niya.
Nag-deploy naman ang PCG nitong Miyerkules ng dalawang karagdagang barko upang bantayan ang kaligtasan ng civilian mission sa WPS.
“China is sending a huge force to blockade Scarborough Shoal ahead of the Atin Ito civilian convoy setting sail from the Philippines Tuesday. By this time tomorrow at least four coast guard and 26 large maritime militia ships on blockade (not counting ‘dark’ vessels),” ani dating US Air Force official at ex-defense attaché Ray Powell sa X (dating Twitter).
“This will be by far the largest blockade I’ll have ever tracked at Scarborough. China seems determined to aggressively enforce its claim over the shoal, of which it seized control from the Philippines in 2012 as summarized by AsiaMTI,” dagdag niya.
Maigting ang tensyon sa pagitan ng China at Pilipinas sa Scarborough Shoal, sa pag-angkin ng una sa halos kabuuan ng South China Sea, na hagip ang bahagi ng exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng huli. RNT/SA
