‘Kalayaan’ trip delayed anew; no new date set

From Malaya Business Insight (Dec 2): ‘Kalayaan’ trip delayed anew; no new date set

THE planned voyage of the group “Kalayaan Atin Ito” from Puerto Princesa City to Philippine-held territories in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea was delayed anew yesterday.

 

No new day has been set for the start of the trip.

 

The 30-day trip of the group led by former Marines captain Nicanor Faeldon was originally set to start last November 30. It was moved to December 1, with volunteers saying the flights of volunteers from the Visayas were delayed because of bad weather conditions.

Yesterday, volunteer Jasper Niel Cruz said the new delay was caused by the re-booking of the flight of some of volunteers from the Visayas. Cruz did not say why the flights had to be re-booked.

Cruz said   volunteers continue to arrive at their headquarters in Tanay, Rizal.

As of yesterday, he said there were around 120 volunteers at their headquarters who will join the voyage. He said they are expecting more volunteers to arrive until Thursday but declined to say how many are they expecting.

The goal was to get some 10,000 volunteers, mostly college students, who would set sail on 81 vessels. The objective is to assert the country’s claim to the areas which are also being claimed by China, Brunei, Taiwan, Malaysia and Vietnam. China has become aggressive in its claims in the South China Sea, with its vessels harassing Filipino fishing boats in the areas.

 

Last Monday, the military said the group is on its own.

 

Cruz said they would leave Manila for Palawan on Friday aboard boats but refused to say if these are chartered or public vessels.

Asked why they are not proceeding to the South China Sea areas directly from Manila, he said: “No passenger boats ply that route. Chartered boats are not willing to travel from Manila to Pag-asa (island),” he said.

Pag-asa island is one of the nine territories occupied by Filipino troops. It serves as the seat of government of Kalayaan town in Palawan and hosts hundreds of civilians.

Asked when the voyage to the Philippine-held areas will start, Cruz said, “We still have no exact date when but we’re planning to go Palawan on Friday… We will definitely push through with the voyage.”

“We have 120 volunteers so far at the headquarters, but some are still arriving. There are contingents coming from Zamboanga, Isabela and other provinces,” Cruz said.

As to the boats they will use for the voyage, Cruz said they are not yet sure about the number. “As of now, we are still planning. We are trying our best so that the voyage will push through,” he said.

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