Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 11) — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said it was not consulted about the decision of the captain of Training Ship (T/S) Kapitan Felix Oca to abort the mission of the Christmas convoy organized by a civilian group after it was shadowed by Chinese vessels.
“We were not consulted, it was only the decision of the captain of the Kapitan Felix Oca to go back to the port of El Nido,” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
On Sunday, civilian group ATIN ITO cut short its mission and headed back to El Nido, Palawan after four Chinese ships shadowed the Filipino vessels.
Volunteers left Palawan on Sunday morning aboard Kapitan Felix Oca and would have brought donations and supplies to Patag and Lawak islands.
ATIN ITO campaign convenor Edicio dela Torre earlier told CNN Philippines that it was the first time for the vessel’s civilian captain to experience such shadowing so he chose to be safe and to return to Palawan. He said only one cargo ship was able to bring Christmas gifts and supplies to Filipino troops at Lawak.
Tarriela said if it was asked, the PCG would have pushed for the mission to continue since China’s action was only an “ordinary shadowing.”
Dela Torre said this mission was the first of a series and would possibly be followed by another one in February.
