A coalition of civil society groups and political leaders on Tuesday honored 16 local officials from Kalayaan, Palawan, for their defiance in the face of recent entry bans imposed by the Chinese government.

The officials, dubbed the “Kalayaan 16,” received the “West Philippine Sea Heroes Award” during a ceremony led by the Akbayan party-list and the Atin Ito coalition. The recognition follows Beijing’s decision last week to bar the officials from entering Chinese territory.

Akbayan president Rafaela David described the individuals as modern-day heroes, arguing that the diplomatic friction has served to unify Filipinos.

“They prove that there are no ‘casual commentators’ when it comes to our sovereignty,” David said. “Ordinary Filipinos are at the frontlines of our defense of the West Philippine Sea.”

Among those honored were Kalayaan Vice Mayor Maurice Philip Alexis Albayda and Councilor Francis Polizon, who attended the event to accept the award.

The travel ban against the Palawan officials was issued as a retaliatory measure. Last week, China announced the restrictions after the Kalayaan municipal government issued its own bans against former and current Chinese ambassadors.

On 10 February, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng stated the order was made “based on the principle of reciprocity.”

Meantime, Akbayan Representative Chel Diokno advocated for the passage of the proposed West Philippine Sea Education Bill. The measure aims to integrate the maritime dispute into the national curriculum to ensure citizens are well-informed on sovereign rights.