MANILA, Philippines — At least two China Coast Guard (CCG) ships have been trailing the M/V Kapitan Felix Oca, a Philippine vessel en route to Pag-asa Island, civic group Atin Ito said on Tuesday, May 27.
The group, a coalition of of different civic leaders, progressive organizations, fisherfolk collectives, and youth groups, is en route to Pag-asa or Thitu Island in the West Philippine Sea for a “first-ever Sea Concert for Peace and Solidarity” in those waters.
Pag-asa is located beyond the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea and is the farthest of the country’s civilian-populated territories in the South China Sea.
In a statement, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that as of 3 pm on Tuesday, May 27, two CCG vessels (with bow numbers CCG 3306 and CCG 21549) were tailing the convoy as it sailed some 58 nautical miles off the coast of El Nido, Palawan.
Two PCG ships — the BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Malapascua — were deployed to “safeguard” the Kapitan Oca.
The PCG said that both the Melchora Aquino and the Malapascua issued radio challenges against the CCG 3306’s ship. “BRP Melchora Aquino has asserted that this area lies within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines, emphasizing that the China Coast Guard vessels lack legal authority over these waters, as outlined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” said the PCG.
As of late Tuesday, May 27, the PCG said the CCG vessel was trailing some four nautical miles away from the Kapitan Oca.
Akbayan Partylist, which is part of the Atin Ito coalition, condemned China’s shadowing.
The Atin Ito’s May 2025 mission, its third to the West Philippine Sea to date, brings a “sea concert” to waters off the coast of Pag-asa Island.
Over 150 individuals — volunteers, artists and their crew, media people, and boat staff — are aboard the Kapitan Oca, according to the coalition.
The Oca will be sailing from May 26 to 30. A “sunset musical” set-off took place on May 26. Community dialogues and cultural exchanges are scheduled aboard the ship during the journey.
Artists who joined the concert include Filipino artists Noel Cabangon, Ebe Dancel, all-women rock band Rouge, rap collective Morobeats, and P-pop group HORI7ON. Foreign performers include Japanese singer Fumi, Malaysian and Indonesian artists Viona and Kai Mata, and South Korean K-pop girl group I:Mond.
Atin Ito, a loose coalition formed in 2023, includes the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, Akbayan, PAKISAMA, the New Masinloc Fishermen Association, PKSK, Akbayan Youth, and the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, among others. It has attempted missions to Ayungin Shoal and Scarborough Shoal, both in the West Philippine Sea. – Rappler.com