NSC discourages civilian groups from conducting holiday supply excursions to WPS

The National Security Council on Thursday said it is "highly discouraging" non-government organizations wishing to conduct a Christmas convoy civilian supply mission in the West Philippine Sea. 

In a public briefing, NSC Assistant director-general, Jonathan Malaya, said they already received a letter addressed to NSC Secretary Eduardo Año, dated 8 November from the Atin Ito group, seeking the council's permission and support on its eyed civilian supply mission, particularly in the Ayungin shoal. 

"Ngunit nung ito ay napagusapan namin sa national security council ay meron po kaming agam-agam kasi alam naman po natin na yung Ayungin Shoal ay hotspot kumbaga ano, mataas ang tensyon dyan (but when we discussed it within the national security council, we had our reservations because we know that the Ayungin shoal is a hotspot area, there's a high tension there)," Malaya said, citing the China's series of assertiveness in the Ayungin shoal, making it more complicated to conduct any mission in its waters. 

Malaya, who is also the concurrent spokesperson of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea, said while the group's intention was good to cheer people during this holiday season, their presence in the area might pose a provocation to China. 

"Mataas ang tensyon d'yan, nagkaroon na dyan ng laser pointing, nagkaroon ng water cannon, nagkaroon pa ng banggaan at mga dangerous maneuvers so ikinalulungkot po ng National Security Council na kung Ayungin Shoal po ang pag-uusapan ay hindi po namin pwedeng suportahan, we highly discourage itong mga grupong ito from conducting their christmas convoy civilian mission kahit maganda po yung layunin bec of security concerns," Malay stressed. 

"Dahil sa taas ng tensyon so since civilian supply boat sila hindi natin masisiguro yung seguridad at baka tingnan ito ng Tsina bilang isang provocative act (Due to high tension, so since it is civilian supply boat, we can't secure their safety and China might see it as a provocative act)," he added.