Eugenio B. Bito-onon Jr.

Eugenio B. Bito-onon Jr. is a Filipino politician and member of the Liberal Party,[1] who has been elected Kalayaan Mayor twice, serving since 2010.[2] He was re-elected in May 2013, winning his re-election bid with 108 votes against rivals Noel Osorio (69 votes) and Rosendo Mantes (46 votes).[3] Bit-onon failed in his re-election bid in 2016,[1][3] coming in second place with 59 votes and losing to the eventual winner Roberto "Choy" M, del Mundo with 142 votes.[4]

Bito-onon is a pioneer and town planner who moved to Thitu Island in 1997 to help strengthen Filipino sovereignty claims to the South China Sea.[5] Believing that a civilian presence helps to strengthen Filipino claims to the South China Sea.[6] Bito-onon helped to establish the first deliberately settled civilian town in the Spratlys on Thitu Island in 2001.[5] In June 2012, he helped establish the Pag-Asa Elementary School, the first school on Thitu Island.[5] Referred to by Hayton as Cloma's heir, Bito-onon also oversaw the completion of a small statue of Tomas Cloma on Thitu Island.[7]

Bito-onon is a strong supporter of Filipino sovereignty and vocal critic of Chinese activities in the South China Sea.[2][8] Bit-onon has also actively promoted international awareness of the Filipino view of the dispute, having hosted and acted as a guide for multiple international news organizations, including Seth Doane from CBS News,[6] Eric Campbell from ABC News,[9] and other reporters, including ones from The New York Times ,[10] CNN[11] and the Asahi Shimbun,[12][13] in tours of the Filipino-held islands of the South China Sea. He has had several encounters with the Chinese Coast Guard while travelling around the Filipino-occupied Spratly Islands.[9][10][12][13]

Bito-onon advocates greater US involvement in the South China Sea dispute.[2][14] He has visited the US and held meetings with the Filipino-American community to promote awareness and elicit support for his cause.[14][13][15] He also promotes turning the Spratly Islands into an ecotourism zone.[3][13][15][16][17]

Bito-onon claims that the energy resources in the South China Sea are enough to support China's needs for the next 105 years.[2] Thus, he believes that the Philippines should occupy the remaining unoccupied islets in the South China Sea,[3] as the possible energy resources would also safeguard Filipino energy independence.[2]

Based primarily in Puerto Princesa, where his office resides,[7][18][19] Bito-onon is generally only able to visit Thitu Island once a year.[11] His wife lives and works in Puerto Princesa.[13][20] Together, they have two sons.[20]