 In 1950, Philippine President Elpidio Quirino said that "as long as China (ROC) held the Spratlys, the Philippines would not press its own claim".On March 15, 1956, Filemon Cloma, funded by Tomas Cloma, landed on the islands with a group of men .On May 11, 1956, funded by Tomás Cloma Sr., Filemon Cloma led 40 men in taking formal possession of the islands , lying some west of the southern end of Palawan and named them "Freedomland".