malaysiangManila: A ranking National Security Council (NSC) official on Thursday said a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship is now patrolling off Escoda (also known as Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
This is contrary to claims made by some sectors who alleged that the Philippines surrendered from its claims upon the withdrawal of the PCG’s BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) early this month, NSC spokesperson Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said in an interview over DZBB radio.
“Definitely, I can say with confidence na hindi po tayo umatras dyan in the sense na parang ibinigay natin sa (that we did not retreat and gave it to) China, nagkaroon lang po tayo ng (we just had a) repositioning,” he added.
Malaya said the personnel needed supply reprovision and the ship some repairs due to damage sustained in the ramming incident last August.
He added National Security Adviser Eduardo Año made it clear that there would be a relief ship for the BRP Teresa Magbanua.
Escoda Shoal lies some 75 nautical miles a
way from Palawan and is well within the Philippine exclusive economic zone.
“May Coast Guard vessel na po tayo na nagpapatrolya sa Escoda Shoal, so ang ginagawa naman po nung ating Coast Guard vessel ay bantayan, siguruhin na walang reclamations, siguruhin na walang ilegal na nangyayari dyan sa Escoda Shoal (We already have a Coast Guard vessel patrolling in Escoda Shoal. What our Coast Guard ship is doing is that it is guarding and ensuring that there will be no reclamations and other illegal activities in Escoda Shoal),” Malaya said.
Malaya did not provide specific details for operational security reasons and to avoid telegraphing plans and intentions to China.
“So nagkaroon po kami ng shift sa aming communications na hindi na po natin ipapaalam but we can assure the Filipino people na hindi po natin ibinigay ang Escoda Shoal (we had a shift in our communications, we will no longer give details [on the ship’s whereabouts] but we can assure the Filipino people that we did not give away Escoda Shoal),” he
added.
Source: Philippines News agency
