Planned ‘patriotic trip’ to Spratlys getting local execs edgy

Aerial photo of the Philippine occupied Kalayaan island in the contested Spratlys group of islands. INQUIRER/Ernie U. Sarmiento

The planned month-long trip by youth volunteers to a disputed island group in the South China Sea is keeping local officials edgy.

“They should consider their safety and convenience,” said Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon Jr. of Kalayaan, one of the islands in the Spratlys that have long been inhabited by Filipinos but which are now being claimed by China.

About 10,000 volunteers composed mostly of college students from 81 provinces in the country have allegedly signified their intention to join a ”patriotic voyage” to the island group from Nov. 30 (Bonifacio Day) to December 30 (Rizal Day). The group has adopted ”Kalayaan Atin Ito” as theme of the event.

The trip, the group claimed, is aimed at showing China and the world that Filipinos are taking a united stand in asserting their country’s claims in the disputed island group.

“Mahirap yun 10,000. Naranasan ko sumakay sa barko 500 kami pila-pila sa kubeta, bathroom, malalaki ang alon…Sa Pag-asa yung isla namin walang pantalan. Very risky, lalo na yung December bagyuhin yan, very risky,” Bito-onon said.

(It’s going to be hard for 10,000. I rode on a ship once with about 500 passengers and we had to queue to the toilet, bathroom, and cope with big waves…In Pagasa [another island in the group], there’s no port so it’s very risky especially in December when it becomes stormy.)

Bito-onon clarified, however, that he is not against the idealism of the youth.

“Kung gusto nila pumunta sa Kalayaan, we do not deny them. Pero yung mga ganyan, should anything untoward happens. Paano sila? Yung ganun, dapat i-consider nila….The area is not totally controlled by the mayor of Kalayaan. May Malacanang, may Department of Foreign Affairs….The best advice is from Malacanang, di ba?” he said.

(If they want to visit Kalayaan, we won’t stop them. But should anything untoward happens, then what? They should consider that the area is not totally controlled by the mayor of Kalayaan. There’s Malacañang, the Department of Foreign Affairs…the best advice is from Malacanang, right?)

Western Command Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez also warned the participants over the weekend because they might be taking “unnecessary risk” because of the sea condition.

One of the organizers of the planned trip is retired Captain Nicanor Faeldon of the Philippine Marines. He previously joined a destabilization plot against the Arroyo government.

Early this month, the group is still asking for support such as transportation and meals from the public for their voyage and the number of confirmed participants to join the voyage have not yet been revealed. Faeldon earlier estimated that the trip might cost almost P1 billion. AU