About 100 Philippine fishing boats with more than 100 fishermen, volunteers, domestic and foreign journalists, and international observers departed on the morning of May 15 from Barangay Matalvis port in Zambales towards Scarborough Shoal in the East Sea.
The group has 5 `mother ships` leading the formation, carrying volunteers from the Atin Ito organization and observers.
Philippine Coast Guard boats and fishermen boats gathered at Barangay Matalvis port preparing to make the journey to Scarborough Shoal on the morning of May 15.
Mr. Trinidad did not reveal how far the warship would keep from the group of fishing vessels and Scarborough Shoal, but emphasized that the navy would `maintain close contact` with the civilian convoy.
This convoy is expected to arrive at Scarborough Shoal on the morning of May 18 and will release buoys to `affirm sovereignty` of the Philippines here.
Ray Powell, director of the SeaLight organization specializing in recording developments in the East Sea, said the number of Chinese coast guard ships and maritime militia has increased near Scarborough Shoal and could put great pressure on civilian ships.
`This is China’s largest blocking formation that I have ever observed. The Chinese side is determined to enforce their claim to sovereignty over the shoal,` Powell said.
`We hope for the best, but are also ready for the worst scenario,` said Robert Francis Garcia, a volunteer participating in the journey to Scarborough.
Philippine navy ship BRP Gregorio del Pilar exercises with US patrol ship USS Gabrielle Giffords in February in the East Sea.
At the end of 2023, the Atin Ito organization also conducted a mission to supply necessities to Philippine soldiers stationed at Co May Bank in the East Sea.
Scarborough Shoal is a coral reef located about 240 km from the main island of Luzon in the Philippines and nearly 900 km from the southeastern coast of China.
The Philippines and China both claim sovereignty over Scarborough, but Beijing has controlled this shoal since 2012. The Philippines announced that it will regain control of Scarborough Shoal from China and is developing a strategy to do so.
Law enforcement forces of the two countries have recently encountered many times near the shoal.
In February, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos expressed concern that China had deployed warships near Scarborough along with coast guard vessels and fishing vessels.
Location of Scarborough Shoal in the East Sea.
