Youth group prevented from traveling to Kalayaan Islands

MANILA, Philippines - Members of youth groups planning to embark on a sea voyage next week to a group of islands being coveted by China have been barred by authorities from making the journey for safety reasons.

Kalayaan Atin Ito movement members said they had hoped to make their “freedom voyage” to the Kalayaan Island Group on Nov. 30 to protest China’s bullying in the West Philippine Sea as well as dramatize the Filipinos’ determination to protect the country’s sovereignty.

The group said Western Command (Wescom) Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez in Puerto Princesa City, in a meeting with its members, told them not to proceed with the voyage, as “it will anger China.” Lopez did not answer The STAR’s call for confirmation of his supposed statement.

Lopez earlier said he was against the voyage because of sea conditions, which could “endanger” the lives of the voyagers.

“Personally, I am not in favor of that... we endanger unnecessarily the lives of the participants. What they will do is unnecessary risk,” he said earlier.

“They do not know how treacherous the sea condition is right now. If ever they will do that, they are ill-advised,” Lopez said.

Mariel Ipan, 24, a student volunteer from Misamis Oriental, said Lopez’s reason for not allowing the voyage was “irresponsible.”

“I am assuming this is just your personal knee-jerk and irresponsible statement and not an official statement (of the military),” she said.

Ipan said Lopez should follow the example of retired Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban who, as then commander of the Western Command, declared in 2013 that he and his troops would fight the Chinese even if they were only armed with bolos.

It was Sabban who ordered the towing of 12 Chinese fishing boats to Palawan, had the fishermen arrested and the boats burned. 

It was only after Sabban’s term that Chinese ships began to arrive in droves and even established their presence at the Ayungin Shoal, making it hard for Wescom to resupply its troops manning an outpost on the grounded Philippine Navy (PN) navy logistic ship, BRP Siera Madre.

“That is why when he (Sabban) was the chief, our troops gallantly defended the Kalayaan Island Group. Even if buoys are only left by China, they are being removed,” said Ipan.

“Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez, now that it is your term, seven artificial reefs were made by China in the coast of Palawan,” Ipan said.

“You might want to explain to us youth, who are ready to sail and fight for the territory that was taken by China, as to why this has happened while you were the chief before you stop us from sailing in order to fight for our independence,” Ipan added.

Another student-volunteer Jimson Ahaja, who is from Sulu, said they were saddened that their own countryman was preventing them from doing their duty.