West PH Sea: BRP Teresa Magbanua arrives in Palawan with sick crew
An ailing crew member of the BRP Teresa Magbanua is given immediate medical attention after the Philippine Coast Guard ship arrives in Palawan with dehydrated PCG personnel. Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua has arrived at port in Puerto Princesa, Palawan from Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Sunday, according to the agency.
Based on photos released by the PCG, four of its members who suffered stomach pain, dehydration, and arthritis were assisted by authorities around 2:22 p.m. upon returning to the port.
Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard
Earlier, Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the WPS, revealed that the vessel was “compelled” to return to port due to unfavorable weather conditions, lack of daily supplies, and structural damage due to the August 31 ramming incident in the WPS.
READ: West Philippine Sea: Several factors force BRP Teresa Magbanua to return – PCG
Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard
“While committed to her mission at Escoda Shoal, BRP Teresa Magbanua was compelled to return to port due to unfavorable weather conditions, depleted supplies of daily necessities, and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care,” Tarriela wrote on X (formerly Twitter)
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: West Philippine Sea: PCG’s BRP Teresa Magbanua leaves Escoda Shoal
Article continues after this advertisement“This has been further complicated by the structural damage to the vessel resulting from the deliberate ramming by the China Coast Guard on August 31, 2024,” he added.
In a separate statement, Liu Dejun, Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson confirmed that the Philippine ship withdrew from the shoal on Sunday afternoon.
The CCG official likewise accused BRP Teresa Magbanua of illegally detaining [in] “Xianbin Jiao” (Escoda Shoal) for five months since April 17.
“We warn the Philippine side to stop inciting, hyping up, and risking infringement, and to work towards the same direction as China to uphold the seriousness and effectiveness of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” he said.
“China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Qundao, including Xianbin Jiao and the adjacent waters. The Chinese maritime police will continue to carry out rights protection and law enforcement activities in the waters under China’s jurisdiction in accordance with the law, and resolutely safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” he added.
Beijing’s continued aggression are based on its assertion of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, as it continues to reject a July 2016 Arbitral Award that effectively dismissed its claims and ruled in favor of Manila.
The landmark ruling stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013, a year after its tense standoff with Beijing over Panatag Shoal, whose lagoon the latter now effectively controls.
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