Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday told China to keep its hands off on a civilian supply mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS), stressing that Filipinos must be allowed to freely navigate within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Hontiveros was referring to the ‘Atin Ito’ (This Is Ours) coalition, which is scheduled to sail towards Bajo de Masinloc—the atoll located about 198 kilometers west of Subic Bay—on Wednesday, May 15.
“Not one of the ‘Atin Ito’ participants should be harassed or intimidated. Not one of our compatriots should fear for their safety,” the senator said in her statement.
Hontiveros considered as outrageous China’s reported plan to send a huge force to block the ‘Atin Ito’ civilian mission. She deplored China for acting as if they own the sea.
“As Filipinos, they (Atin Ito) have the right to sail in the EEZ of the Philippines,” she said.
The ‘Atin Ito’ civilian mission has every right to set sail for Bajo de Masinloc, according to the senator.
“This is our territory. These are our waters. This is ours and only ours,” Hontiveros underscored.
The senator further bewailed China for propagating lies that the ‘Atin Ito’ mission is a plot concocted by the Philippine and American governments.
“This group of ordinary and private citizens simply wants to deliver goods to fellow Filipinos whom China has long deprived of food and livelihood,” Hontiveros emphasized.
