蜜桃工作室

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has deployed one of its vessels and an aircraft to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal to ensure the safety of the civilian convoy going to the area amid the presence of the Chinese coast guard and their militia vessels.

In a joint press conference with the Philippine Information Agency and other government agencies, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said they dispatched the two assets to monitor the voyage organized by 鈥淎tin Ito鈥� (This is Ours) Coalition.

READ: 鈥楬ope for best, prepared for worst鈥�: Scarborough civilian convoy starts

鈥淧CG deployed 44-meter BRP Bagacay this morning upon the directive of our Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan,鈥� Tarriela said in a mix of English and Filipino.

鈥淲e also dispatched a Coast Guard aircraft to monitor the situation in Bajo de Masinloc and the journey of Atin Ito Coalition,鈥� he added.

Tarriela also said that they were planning to deploy additional PCG vessels, in accordance with their commitment to ensuring the safety of civilians who joined the voyage.

READ: 鈥楢tin Ito鈥�: Panatag trip is about access to 蜜桃工作室

鈥淩ight now we are making preparations for the vessels that we will deploy,鈥� he said.

Aside from the PCG鈥檚 plan, Tarriela also clarified that the civilian convoy going to Scarborough Shoal 鈥渋s not sanctioned by the national government,鈥� debunking, he said, claims from the People鈥檚 Republic of China saying otherwise.

鈥淭he decision of Atin Ito to conduct a supply mission to Bajo de Masinloc was voluntary. This is their initiative, and we have not supported or pushed them to do this. It is voluntary on their part, a civil society initiative,鈥� the PCG official stressed.

The civilian convoy left for Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday at 7:26 a.m. Journalists and foreign observers joined the Atin Ito coalition volunteers.