MANILA — It was a "stealth" mission that outsmarted Chinese forces.

While everyone's eyes were focused in the main Atin Ito's civilian mission that departed Masinloc on May 15, a secret advance team headed to Scarborough Shoal a day earlier.

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All media covering the mission weren't informed that there was an advance team, composed of 10 individuals in one vessel, the FBCA Gavin.

The advance team went as close as 20 nautical miles to Bajo de Masinloc, breaching Chinese blockade in the area.

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They were able to distribute over a hundred food packs and thousands of liters of fuel.

Mark Figueras, team leader of the advance team, said they disguised as fishermen, which meant no "Atin Ito" tarpaulin and no cameras were seen in the vessel.

"Four ng umaga, rumadyo kami sa mga fisherfolks [na mamimigay kami ayuda]. Tas unti-unti, may mga lumalapit sa 'min na fisherfolks," he said.

(At 4 in the morning, we sent radio messages to fisherfolk that we will distribute supplies. Then they got close to us.)

"Maya-maya, may rumadyo sa 'min, may sumusunod sa 'min. Tinanong namin, sino sumusunod? Sinusundan na po kami Chinese navy," he said.

(There was someone who told us they're being shadowed. When we asked who it was, they said it was the Chinese Navy)

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Figueras said Chinese Navy 175 kept on shadowing them while they were distributing supplies for fishermen. They did not receive a radio challenge from China.

"Mga 1 nautical mile, natatanaw na namin ang barko ng [Chinese] navy, so nandun na," he said.

(We saw the Chinese Navy got close to us by just one nautical mile)

Figueras added that a Chinese chopper kept encircling them.

"Nung malayo pa lang ang Navy, parang kinabahan na ako. Pero nung lumapit, parang hindi na ako kinabahan," he added.

(When we saw the Chinese Navy from afar, I got anxious, but eventually, I wasn't that nervous anymore..)

Figueras said he wanted to come closer to the shoal but was advised by other Filipino fishermen from doing so as 6 Chinese Coast Guard vessels were driving them away.

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"Sinabihan kami 'wag na. Tinataboy na kami, tinataboy na kami," Figueras said.

(We were told not to move closer to the shoal as other fishermen are being driven away.)

Cris Brusa, another leader of the advance team, said Filipino fishermen became cautious of going near them when the Chinese Navy ship started shadowing.

"Nung namimigay kami ng supply, medyo alanganin na sila. Pero nung lumapit na kami, hindi na nila pinansin ang Navy ship eh," Brusa said.

(When we were giving supplies, fishermen had doubts, but when we got closer to them, they just ignored the Navy ship.)

After distribution, the advance team headed back to the mainland.

They got back to Subic a day before the main civilian convoy did.

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Senate Deputy Minority Floor Leader Risa Hontiveros praised the Atin Ito Coalition for successfully accomplishing its mission of delivering fuel and food packs to Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.

“Saludo, Atin Ito, sa matagumpay na misyon sa West Philippine Sea,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

(Salute, Atin Ito, for a succesful mission in the West Philippine Sea.)

“Ito ay patunay sa kakayahan ng sambayanan na magkaisa, magsama-sama, at magtulong-tulong para sa ating soberanya,” she added.

(This is a testament to the capability of the Filipino people to unite and work together for our sovereignty.) 

-- With a report from Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News 

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