‘Atin Ito’ civilian mission hoists Philippine flag in Pagasa Cay

MANILA, Philippines — The civil society group “Atin Ito” reached Pag-asa Cay 2 on Sunday, May 3, during its fourth civilian expedition, placing a Philippine flag on the feature while Chinese vessels closely monitored the area.

The flag was planted on Sunday morning, according to the group’s statement, after members departed Pag-asa Island at 5:40 a.m., slipping past the presence of the Chinese Coast Guard.

The act was led by Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula, Akbayan Party-list representative, the group said.

“Matagumpay po nating naitaas ang ating bandila sa Pag-asa Cay 2 sa kabila ng mabigat na presensiya ng Tsina,” Ismula said.

(We have successfully raised our flag on Pag-asa Cay 2 despite the heavy Chinese presence.)

“This is a defiant but peaceful act of resistance against China’s aggression within our waters. Our message is clear: the West Philippine Sea is ours. No amount of intimidation can erase that fact,” she added.

Pag-asa Cay 2 forms part of the Philippines’ sovereign waters and serves as an extension of Pag-asa Island.

It remains a site of geopolitical tension, marked by frequent encounters between Philippine Coast Guard and Chinese Coast Guard vessels.

On Friday morning, the mission was shadowed by a Chinese Coast Guard vessel.

The group’s ability to document events from the air was also compromised.

Operators discovered that their Chinese-built drones were software-locked, requiring authorization from Chinese aviation authorities before they could be deployed in the area.