Atin Ito completes 3rd civilian mission with Pag-asa Island concert

Indonesian musician Kai Mata joins a lineup of Filipino artists at a concert on Monday onboard the Kapitan Felix Oca off the coast of El Nido, Palawan. The concert was the first of two shows that formed part of the Atin Ito Coalition’s third mission to the West Philippine Sea that was completed Wednesday. Photo from Atin Ito Coalition.

ABOARD T/S FELIX OCA, West Philippine Sea —Atin Ito Coalition has completed its third civilian mission and concert in Pag-asa Island, West Philippine Sea on Wednesday afternoon, according to Akbayan party-list president Rafaela David.

David made the announcement in a press conference after the sea concert concluded inside the training ship (T/S) Felix Oca around 3:55 p.m.

“On behalf of the West Philippine Sea Atin Ito Coalition, I think we can now say that we’ve accomplished our mission for our third civilian mission,” the Atin Ito convener said.

READ: Atin ito holds concert off Pag-asa Island in West PH Sea

David said the mission’s completion was not only their triumph but also a victory for Filipinos hoping for peace in the region.

“We were able to jam and hold a concert. This is a historic mission because it’s the first-ever concert at sea for peace held here in the West Philippine Sea. The great thing about this mission is that not only Filipino artists played and sang, but also artists from our neighboring countries joined in,” she added.

Among the artists who performed were rap collective Morobeats, P-pop group HORI7ON, Indonesian and Malaysian musicians Viona and Kai Mata, and South Korean K-pop girl group I:Mond.

In a separate statement also on Wednesday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced that BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Malapascua have successfully escorted the Atin Ito convoy from El Nido port to the vicinity off Pag-asa Island.

PCG disclosed that the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels shadowing the T/S Felix Oca were last spotted about two nautical miles (nm) from the civilian ship, while CCG 3306 was last seen about 4.6 nautical miles from Pag-asa Island.

Meanwhile, the agency said 22 Chinese Maritime Militia vessels were anchored at Pag-asa Cay 2, Cay 3, and Cay 4, about 1.5 nautical miles off the starboard bow of BRP Melchora Aquino.

In line with this, the PCG said it is closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of the mission’s participants.

On the other hand, T/S Felix Oca’s captain Jorge Dela Cruz said the ship is now bound for Manila following the mission’s completion./mr