A NATIONWIDE caravan, aimed at creating a national consciousness and gather support for the country’s position over the West Philippine Sea against China, has been organized by Ret. Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon.
The caravan, which should end at the oil-rich Recto (Reed Bank) in the Spratlys in October, should assert the country’s legal and historical ownerships of the islets and reefs that are now being claimed or even being developed by China.
“The objective is to inform as many people as we could about the problem in Palawan and solicit their commitment, their support to the effort of the entire country on the West Philippine Sea because the government cannot face this alone. It needs the participation of everyone, especially the civilians,” Faeldon said.
“The government should feel our resolve, our willingness to sacrifice in helping the country preserve the Kalayaan Island Group, the Spratlys,” he added.
Faeldon, a demolition expert, was a controversial Marine officer. He joined the destabilization plot against the former Arroyo administration, went underground to evade arrest after he was implicated in the Oakwood Mutiny and surrendered after President Aquino came into office.
Concerns have been raised over China’s expansive claims in the West Philippine Sea, and it became heightened after Beijing undertook reclamation or development of at least seven reefs in order to transform them into military facilities or bases, one of which, seen as having an airstrip.
All of the reefs are within the country’s claimed territory and are close to the nearest island province of Palawan.
Faeldon said the caravan, which will be initially carried out through a single truck, was just an implementation of a similar plan in 2012, but which was aborted after no less than President Aquino called him to stop it.
The former Marine captain then planned to travel with his small group to Scarborough Shoal near Zambales to show to China that the shoal belonged to the country. At that time, a Coast Guard vessel was in a standoff with Chinese paramilitary vessels at the shoal.
“This is a continuation of what we wanted to do in 2012. We heeded then the call of the national government to postpone it. This time we will do it and we wanted to involve everybody,” Faeldon said.
Faeldon added the caravan will start on Thursday, with the truck heading to its first destination, which is Batanes.
As the truck goes around the country, it hopes Filipinos will join it or for civilians in every province to hop in until the caravan will transform into a very big group.
Faeldon said that in October when the caravan will sail to the Recto Bank, they were hoping that it will be composed of 82 motorized boats, which represent every province of the country.
“We will stay there until it is needed or until the case against China has been decided upon,” he said.
Faeldon shared the belief that China will never honor any decision by the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, hence there is a need for Recto Bank to be guarded.
He also said one of the reasons China is very active in the West Philippine Sea is to take the oil-rich bank.
“What is at stake here is around P14 trillion worth of natural gas and oil,” Faeldon said.
Great way to drum up support.We need this now.Our fellow Filipinos need to look at this, get involved and be fully engaged.Maybe not at the moment, but the real effect of China’s activities will be fully felt in the very near future.It is very much like your own home, where an outsider decided to claim a legal part of your land.And started building his own fence.We cannot afford this.It is a moral and basic duty to ensure our nation’s stability and safety for our children.And for all our generations to come.As a people, we all have to speak up and put our collective voices out.
Change the government. Don’t let your sacrifices be put to waste by this useless country officials. You cannot do it like that. As long as this unworthy officials stay in power, it will not be China who will the big problem. It will be your countrymen who chose to stay on the sideline and wait until the country gets raped by a bully.