'Atin Ito' holds first jetski flag ride in Pag-asa Island

The civil society coalition Atin Ito conducted on Sunday its first jetski flag ride in the waters off Pag-asa Island in the highly contested West Philippine Sea.

The activity marked a highlight of the group’s fourth civilian mission to the area.

“Dahil isang Mindanaoan ang nangako at nambudol ng jetski ride sa West Philippine Sea, isa ring Mindanaoan at babae ngayon ang nanindigan para gawin ito para sa ating bansa,” said Akbayan Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula, who led the jetski flag ride, in a statement.

(“Because it was a Mindanaoan who promised and scammed [us] with a jetski ride to the West Philippine Sea, it is also a Mindanaoan—and a woman—who is now taking a stand to actually do it for our country.”)

The remark referenced former President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2016 campaign statement about riding a jetski to the West Philippine Sea to assert Philippine sovereignty—later described by Duterte as a joke.

The Atin Ito mission began at 5:40 a.m., with a small team of volunteers led by Ismula navigating the waters aboard a rubber boat.

“Matagumpay po nating naitaas ang ating bandila sa Pag-asa Cay 2 sa kabila ng mabigat na presensiya ng Tsina,” Ismula said.

(“We have successfully raised our flag on Pag-asa Cay 2 despite the heavy presence of China.”)

In a Reuters report, China accused the Philippines of landing personnel on a disputed reef in the South China Sea on Sunday as Manila said it would dispatch ships to drive off Chinese vessels it said were conducting research illegally.

China’s Coast Guard said it had identified five Filipino personnel who had landed on Sandy Cay, calling the move “illegal,” according to state-run media.

Beijing claims sovereignty over the area.

The Philippines, for its part, said it had deployed its coast guard to the sandbar following reports that Chinese personnel had earlier arrived there and raised a Chinese flag.

A Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson also said authorities had monitored Chinese vessels conducting what it described as illegal research in Philippine waters and warned of possible deployment of ships and aircraft to drive them away.

In a separate statement, Atin Ito said a People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel—a Jiangkai II-class (Type 054A) frigate—maneuvered close to the Philippine contingent.

“It approached to within approximately 1,000 yards of ML Chowee, the vessel that deployed our jetski from MV Kapitan Oca. The frigate also came as near as two nautical miles from Pag-asa Island, particularly in the area where the jetski activity was conducted,” the coalition said.

The civilian mission, which started on April 30, will run until May 5. Activities include the delivery of fuel and food supplies, medical outreach, cultural events, and island tours.

Pag-asa Island, part of the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea, lies about 277 kilometers from mainland Palawan.

With an area of 32.7 hectares, it is the largest island in the municipality.—MCG, GMA News