The Atin Ito Coalition on Monday announced it will conduct another civilian mission in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on May 25, amid ongoing tensions involving Chinese vessels and aircraft in the area.
As part of the third mission, Atin Ito co-convenor and Akbayan party-list president Rafaela David revealed a peace and solidarity sea concert would also take place.
“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,” David said.
“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,” she added.
Renowned artists Noel Cabangon, all-women rock group Rouge, and Japanese artist Fumiya Sankai (better known as “Fumi”) have since pledged their support.
The third Atin Ito mission builds upon the success of its previous civilian-led expeditions in 2023 and 2024, which provided essential aid to fisherfolk while asserting the Philippines’ rightful claim over its territorial waters.
Meanwhile, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said the area is not a “disputed” territory but an integral part of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as affirmed by international law.
In the National Task Force for the WPS Information Campaign at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) on March 14, he emphasized the importance of transparency in combating misinformation and ensuring Filipinos are informed about the situation in WPS.
“One of the greatest challenges we have is to confront fake news and misinformation in the West Philippine Sea. It’s because of the People’s Republic of China, it’s very easy for them to counter our factual narrative with lies,” Tarriela said.
“The fight to uphold Philippine sovereignty in the WPS is far from over, and your future roles as seafarers will be significant in this continuing battle,” he added.
Tarriela encouraged cadets to play an active role in upholding Philippine sovereignty, urging them to educate others and support efforts to protect the country’s rights in WPS.
He likewise clarified the distinction between the South China Sea (SCS) and the WPS. On one hand, the SCS refers to the broader maritime region.
On the other hand, the WPS specifically pertains to the area within the country’s EEZ, referring to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.