The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua encountered engine trouble while patrolling near Bajo de Masinloc early Monday morning.
According to PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela, the ship’s auxiliary engines overheated, requiring it to return to a port in Bataan for minor repairs.
As a result, the China Coast Guard was able to approach within 67 nautical miles of Pundaquit, Zambales.
The BRP Gabriela Silang, a smaller vessel compared to China’s “monster ship,” has been deployed as a replacement to continue PCG’s patrols in the area.
Despite the size disparity between PCG vessels and China’s ships, Commodore Tarriela affirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting the country’s maritime jurisdiction.
The BRP Teresa Magbanua had been deployed earlier to radio-challenge the massive Chinese Coast Guard ship loitering in the area.
On Monday, the PCG also dispatched its Islander aircraft to conduct aerial maritime patrols, closely monitoring the Chinese vessel.
Through a radio challenge, the PCG reiterated the Philippines’ opposition to the illegal presence of Chinese ships within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The PCG emphasized that the operation of the Chinese vessel within Philippine jurisdiction lacks legal authority and cannot be justified as legitimate maritime patrol activity.