By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Contrary to an earlier claim by the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) asserted on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, that China Coast Guard (CCG) 5901, the world’s largest coast guard ship known as “The Monster,” remains anchored at Escoda Shoal.
The 97-meter multi-role response vessel (MRRV) BRP Teresa Magbanua, named after a Visayan Katipunan heroine, has been stationed at Escoda Shoal since April, issuing radio challenges to the 165-meter CCG ship on an hourly basis.
“As of 7:30 in the morning on Wednesday, the latest image from our Coast Guard personnel shows that the CCG monster ship remains inside Escoda Shoal. It never departed and is still anchored there,” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum at Cafe Adriatico in Malate, Manila.
He emphasized that the Chinese vessel has not left Escoda or Sabina Shoal since July 3.
“We have reported since last week that we monitored the presence of this CCG monster ship inside Escoda Shoal, anchored around 600 yards away from BRP Teresa Magbanua,” Tarriela added.
On Tuesday, July 16, 2024, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the CCG ship with hull number 5901 had exited the country’s exclusive economic zone.
“It is no longer off Escoda Shoal,” Trinidad stated during an interview with reporters after a regular press briefing at Philippine Air Force (PAF) headquarters. He also mentioned that no replacement ship had been sent.
Escoda or Sabina Shoal is located 75 nautical miles (about 140 kilometers) off Palawan and is considered to be within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
(el Amigo/mnm)
