PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—The mayor of Kalayaan town in Palawan was harassed by two unidentified vessels while traveling with around 200 others by sea toward midnight on Thursday.
Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon of Kalayaan, which governs Pag-asa and four other islets in the Spratlys claimed by the Philippines, said they left Pag-asa Island on Wednesday, two days after casting their votes.
He said they were on their way to Puerto Princesa, about 280 nautical miles away, on board a municipal boat and passing by the Ayungin Shoal when the two vessels approached them.
Ayungin Shoal is about 100 nautical miles from Pag-asa and near Mischief Reef, which is occupied by China.
The vessels looked like big military naval vessels, said Bito-onon, who arrived here Friday afternoon.
He said the vessels came as close as 30 meters, following them for about an hour with heavy spotlight.