PCG: BRP Teresa Magbanua’s essential supplies now ‘critical’

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday said the essential supplies on BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda Shoal were at a critical level after Chinese vessels blocked the resupply missions.

“Based on the notice to all mariners that the PCG released yesterday, highlighted the fact that there is a need for us to do a humanitarian mission to provide supplies on board BRP Teresa Magbanua,” PCG spokesperson to WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela in a press conference.

“It just goes to show that the essential supplies and food requirement for us to feed our crew on board BRP Teresa Magbanua is already critical,” he added.

According to Tarriela, China started a series of aggressive actions in the area around the second or third week of August.

“That means that the PCG before never really had difficulty in delivering essential supplies on board BRP Teresa Magbanua,” he said.

Tarriela said there were more than 10 personnel on BRP Teresa Magbanua. He refused to give the exact number of the crew and other operational details.

Despite the critical level of essential supplies, Tarriela said morale aboard the Teresa Magbanua remained high.

On Monday, CCG ships blocked two PCG vessels on a rotation and reprovisioning mission to the Teresa Magbanua in Escoda Shoal in the WPS.

On Sunday, CCG vessels rammed and used a water cannon on the BFAR's BRP Datu Sanday near Escoda Shoal.

Escoda Shoal is located 75 nautical miles or about 140 kilometers off Palawan and is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

BRP Teresa Magbanua has been stationed in Escoda Shoal since April amid reports of China’s reclamation activities in the area.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry recently lodged a formal protest over the Teresa Magbanua's presence at the Escoda Shoal.

The situation remained tense amid China’s massive claims in the South China Sea (SCS), including the portion the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

The SCS is a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. 

Aside from the Philippines, China has overlapping claims in the area with Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea as the latter had "no legal basis."

China refuses to recognize the decision. — DVM, GMA Integrated News