The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship deployed as a replacement for the BRP Teresa Magbanua has moved closer to Escoda Shoal, the National Maritime Council (NMC) said Saturday.
NMC spokesperson Undersecretary Alexander Lopez provided the update in an interview at a news forum in Quezon City, according to a report by Carlo Mateo of Super Radyo DZBB.
“Ang klaro natin, ang posisyon natin ay meron na tayong naglayag na asset ng ating gobyerno para may kapalit o magko-cover ng Sabina Shoal,” Lopez said, referring to the other name of Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
(What is clear, our position is that we have already sailed an asset of the Philippine government to replace or cover the Sabina Shoal.)
“Actually hindi lang Sabina Shoal, since sakop na natin ‘yung ibang lugar sa West Philippine Sea,” he added.
(Actually it is not just Sabina Shoal, since we have already covered other areas in the West Philippine Sea.)
Lopez reported that the ship has so far not experienced any harassment from the Chinese militia or other hostile forces.
“So far wala. Wala pa namang report na na-harass tayo (So far nothing. There has been no report that we have been harassed),” he said.
The BRP Teresa Magbanua was pulled out from Escoda Shoal after five months of being anchored at the disputed area due to its questionable seaworthiness, lack of supplies for the crew, and poor weather conditions, the Philippine Coast Guard said.
The vessel had been stationed in Escoda Shoal since April amid reports of China’s reclamation activities in the area.
After the departure of BRP Teresa Magbanua, the Philippine Navy reported that China has 65 ships at Escoda Shoal.
However, Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said China is not in control of the shoal, adding that the presence of Chinese ships there was illegal.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año on Friday said the replacement vessel had already set sail, but had to take shelter first because of inclement weather.
Following the talks between the Philippines and China with no breakthroughs, Año said there was no need for a deal between the two counties regarding the shoal.
“For Sabina, I don’t think kailangan natin ng gan’ung understanding because ang importante lang naman sa Sabina, number one matigil ‘yung anumang reclamation na ginagawa dito,” he said.
(For Sabina, I don’t think we need that kind of understanding because the only important thing for Sabina, number one, is to stop any reclamation that is being done here.)
Escoda Shoal, also known as Sabina Shoal, is located 75 nautical miles or about 140 kms off Palawan and is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Beijing had been calling on the Philippines to remove the BRP Teresa Magbanua from Escoda Shoal as its presence supposedly violated Chinese sovereignty.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said that it lodged a formal protest over the presence of the Philippine ship in Escoda Shoal. — Jamil Santos/ VDV, GMA Integrated News
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