The Atin Ito Coalition has denounced Chinese navy assistance to a stranded Filipino fisherman on Christmas Day in the West Philippine Sea as a propaganda stunt to deflect from ongoing harassment and incursions, following reports of the incident. The Philippine Coast Guard disputed China's account and questioned the vessel's presence in Philippine waters.
In response to the December 25, 2025, incident where People's Liberation Army Navy sailors provided water and snacks to fisherman Larry Tumalis—whose distress signal prompted the aid amid fears of harassment—the Atin Ito Coalition issued a statement rejecting it as genuine humanitarianism.
"We strongly reject China's deceptive, self-serving and propaganda-driven public relations campaign," the group said. Co-convenor Rafaela David, also Akbayan Party president, emphasized: "We recognize the universal duty to assist people in distress at sea. But what China did was not humanitarianism, it is image management... meant to distract us from years of harassment, violence and illegal incursions."
David highlighted recent aggression, including China Coast Guard vessels water-cannoning Filipino fishers at Escoda Shoal and damaging boats. She questioned: "Why was China patrolling inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the first place? No act of assistance grants permission to trespass."
PCG spokesperson Commander Jay Tarriela clarified Tumalis was anchored safely for under 24 hours, not missing for three days as China claimed. He noted the fisherman felt threatened by the approaching warship, which launched a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB). Tarriela queried if China had a "change of heart after Christmas" and urged the Chinese ambassador to affirm respect for Filipino fishermen's rights.
Atin Ito stressed one gesture cannot erase China's record: "China should stop pretending that a bottle of water and a pack of snacks can wipe away years of harassment."
