THE Armed Forces has not taken any action to protect the officials and residents of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) town in Palawan despite reports about harassments by Chinese who allgedly continue to intrude and patrol inside their territory.
“We have no statement as of now pending verification of the report, and while waiting for an official action by the government,” the Armed Forces spokesman, Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr., said in a text message.
Since reports of the renewed intrusion of Chinese ships into the KIG was reported almost two weeks ago, the military has implemented a news blackout on the issue, despite persistent reports of Chinese ships harassing residents on Pagasa Island.
“Sanay na kami sa pangha-harass nila [China]. Hindi naman kami sinasaktan, wala naman silang ginagawa sa amin. Puro pagpapabida lang ang ginagawa. Maski sa Pagasa Island may dumadaan silang barko…regular ang patrol nila…. Hindi ko lang masigurado kung Coast Guard ba nila [China] iyon o ano, madilim e,” said re-elected KIG Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon.
Pagasa Island is the center of political government of the KIG, which has a civilian population of less than 400, not to include the soldiers deployed on the place.
Reportedly, a flotilla of more or less 30 Chinese ships escorted by Chinese Navy patrol ships entered and allegedly unloaded construction materials on nearby Ayungin Reef that is also being claimed by the Philippines.
Bito-onon confirmed this report from fishermen who allegedly saw the activity of the Chinese but he has no way to verify it.
“Yes, and we’re deeply concerned by such reports,” he said.
On May 15, at around 12:30 a.m., two suspected Chinese patrol ships harassed the ship with Bito-onon and 146 other passengers and crew members on board that was sailing to Balabac from Pagasa.
“Tulog ako e. Naikwento na lang ng mga kasama ko ito. Hinabol daw kami about an hour until we passed by Ayungin where a big unidentified boat is anchored. At close range wala daw makitang numero. Ang lakas kasi ng spotlight nila. From Ayungin we headed for Balabac, nag-turn lang kami doon [Ayungin Reef]. Wala naman silang ginawa sa amin, except sinundan lang kami,” said Bito-onon.
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