STUDENT VOLUNTEERS of the Kalayaan Atin Ito (KAI) movement are poised to make a second trip to the Kalayaan group of islands. This time, they intend to spend at least a month visiting the islands that the Philippines currently occupies in the Spratlys.
Last December, 48 student-members of the movement visited Pagasa Island in defiance of government attempts to prevent the trip purportedly because “the sea was unsafe at this time of the year” and because the visit could incur China’s displeasure.
Well, the sea—the West Philippine Sea, our sea—was safe enough for the students. More hostile than rough waters were the attitude and action of the Philippine Coast Guard. An officious employee at the Coast Guard Station Brooke’s Point in Palawan decided to fine their vessel, the ML AlShedin, the grand total of P230,000 for various violations that could have easily been overlooked, considering that the vessel was used to serve the higher interest of the nation. Perhaps the Coast Guard can still redeem itself by just issuing a warning. Unless its orders came straight from the top of the totem pole and no one, of course, can countermand such instructions.
Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/92317/china-warns-pinoys-stay-out-of-pagasa#ixzz3yJBASLOE