MANILA, Philippines- Handa ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) na magbigay ng tulong sa ikatlong civilian mission sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) sa May 25.
Sinabi ni Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad na welcome sa AFP ang suporta mula sa civic group.
“The Armed Forces welcomes all civic groups that would like to show support to the stand of the government in the WPS. Actions like this, like a group sail, the third organized by the particular group, is very much welcome, provided that they get the right coordination with the appropriate government agency,” ang sinabi ni Trinidad.
“The Philippine Navy, the Armed Forces, to include other government agencies, are always ready to support them in their endeavor and to provide assistance if and when necessary,” dagdag na wika nito.
Nang tanungin kung magbibigay ang Philippine military ng close escort sa civilian mission, sinabi ni Trinidad na ikokonsidera ito ‘on a case-to-case basis.’
“The presence of the AFP, the Philippine Navy in the WPS is based on the patrol plans of Northern Luzon Command and Western Command. In the event of specific details like particular requests for escorts by different civic society groups, this will be taken up on a case-to-case basis,” wika ng opisyal.
“In the event that this will coincide with the different patrol plans, then it will be good to have them at the same time, on the same day,” dagdag ni Trinidad.
Sa kabilang dako, araw ng Lunes, inanunsyo ng Atin Ito Coalition nitong Lunes, Marso 17 na magkakaroon ulit ng isa pang civilian mission na isasagawa sa West Philippine Sea.
Ang ikatlong civilian mission ay itinakda sa Mayo 25 kasabay ng tensyon sa nasabing lugar na inaangkin ng China.
Ayon kay Atin Ito co-convenor at Akbayan party-list president Rafaela David, magkakaroon din ng peace and solidarity sea concert kasabay nito.
“We are setting sail with a message of peace and solidarity through music. Through the power of art and collective action, we will fight for what is rightfully ours–not with weapons of war, but with the unyielding force of music and solidarity,” ani David.
“We will restore peace, solidarity, and cooperation in the region–values that have long bound our nations together, especially among our fisherfolk. These were callously undermined when China unilaterally imposed its baseless claims, resorting to aggression and violence to illegally assert control over waters,” dagdag pa niya. Kris Jose
