MANILA, Philippines – She has seen, and has been victim to, the worst in the West Philippine Sea, as tensions rise between the superpower China and the Philippines. 

The BRP Teresa Magbanua has survived it all, proudly flying the Philippine flag over Escoda Shoal — never mind that there’s been a gaping hole in her hull since late August 2024. 

But on Friday, September 13, the BRP Teresa Magbanua left Escoda Shoal and is returning to her home port.

In a statement by Lucas Bersamin, the executive secretary and co-chairman of the National Maritime Council, he said the BRP Teresa Magbanua “is now sailing back to her homeport with her mission accomplished.”

The statement from Bersamin added, “This repositioning will allow the Magbanua to address the medical needs of some of her crew, undergo needed repairs, and allow her crew to enjoy a well-deserved furlough and reunion with their loved ones.”

The Magbanua, among the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)’s newest and most modern ships, was first deployed to Sabina or Escoda Shoal in April 2024 amid worries that Beijing was trying to reclaim the low-tide elevation as it had done in other features in the West Philippine Sea. 

She then went on an “extended patrol,” anchoring within the shoal and standing guard as Chinese vessels — from the China Coast Guard (CCG), Chinese Maritime Militia, to the Chinese Navy — surrounded her at sea. 

“After she has been resupplied and repaired, and her crew recharged, she will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission, along with other PCG and AFP assets, as defenders of our sovereignty,” Bersamin said.

Commending the officer on board the Teresa Magbanua, the Philippine Coast Guard said in its own statement that while the ship and the people stationed on it were committed to the Escoda Shoal mission, it 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. 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.”

“The PCG acknowledges the unwavering patriotism, unshakeable bravery, dedication, and unparalleled professionalism of our personnel on board BRP Teresa Magbanua, as they carried out and performed their mission in Escoda Shoal even in dangerous and adverse operational conditions,” the PCG added.

Her presence in the shoal had been a sore point between the Philippines and China, with the latter calling for her exit both in diplomatic protests and public statements. In a recent Bilateral Consultation Mechanism for the South China Sea meeting, Beijing reiterated its call for Manila to pull the ship out of the shoal. 

In August, Escoda Shoal quickly turned into a new flashpoint for tensions in waters that are part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) but that China claims is part of its territory. 

Between August 19 and 26, Chinese vessels harassed Philippine ships at least thrice in or in waters close to Escoda Shoal, with the CCG using water cannons or ramming Philippine boats. An attempted two-vessel mission to bring supplies to the Magbanua was met with 40 ships rom China. The Philippines eventually brought supplies to the Magbanua through helicopter. 

On August 31, the Magbanua herself was rammed by the CCG as it lowered its anchor in one spot in Escoda Shoal. She was left with the gaping hole in her deck, but the Philippines said she would continue her patrol in the shoal.

The shoal is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone — an area affirmed by a 2016 Arbitral Ruling which China refuses to acknowledge.

– Rappler.com