The Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua has reportedly left Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, according to the U.S. Naval Institute (USNI).
AIS data, posted on social media on Friday, tracked the vessel sailing towards the Sulu Sea. However, no official statement has been released by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The BRP Teresa Magbanua had been deployed to Sabina Shoal (also known as Escoda Shoal) since April 15, 2024.
The vessel had been involved in a controversial incident where it sustained damage after being rammed by a China Coast Guard vessel.
In May, the PCG reported the presence of crushed corals near Sabina Shoal, similar to what was observed near Sandy Cay.
Filipino marine biologists attributed this to China’s island-building activities in the West Philippine Sea.
The PCG suggested that the coral debris around Sabina Shoal might be part of China’s preparations for reclamation activities in the area.
Meanwhile, on September 11, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro had a “frank and candid exchange of views” with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong in Beijing.
Despite the dialogue, no breakthrough was achieved in resolving the ongoing standoff at Sabina Shoal. Both countries remained firm in their positions, though they pledged to explore ways to prevent confrontations.
Sabina Shoal is located 75 nautical miles (140 kilometers) off Palawan, within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
