BRP Teresa Magbanua overheats in Bajo de Masinloc, to be replaced

The BRP Teresa Magbanua deployed near Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal overheated early Monday morning and will be replaced by another ship, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

According to Bernadette Reyes’ report on “24 Oras,” the Teresa Magbanua had earlier kept the so-called "monster ship" of the Chinese Coast Guard at bay. But since the Philippine ship had returned to port for repair, the Chinese vessel has been spotted 66.69 nautical miles off Pundaquit, Zambales

“This early morning BRP Teresa Magbanua experienced overheating of auxiliary engines, that's why it returned to Port of Bataan. That is the reason why China Coast Guard was again able to come near at a distance of 67 nautical miles,” PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said.

The PCG deployed its vessels and aircraft to radio challenge the CCG to leave the area, but China also deployed a helicopter.

The Teresa Magbanua will be replaced by BRP Gabriela Silang, which is almost half the size of the monster ship.

The PCG said its aircraft, which can send radio challenges to CCG vessels, also conducted maritime patrols.

“Despite the discrepancy in the size of the monster ship, the Philippine Coast Guard remains committed to deploying our vessels,” Tarriela said.

The National Maritime Council (NMC) has filed a diplomatic protest against CCG’s illegal presence in the EEZ.

NMC said China’s actions are violations of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling that affirmed Manila's sovereign rights in its maritime zones. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA Integrated News