A new Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel has replaced BRP Suluan (MRRV-4406) to resume patrol operations against China’s illegal presence off the Zambales coast in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In a statement on Wednesday night, PCG Spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela confirmed that BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) has taken over monitoring efforts and confronted the illegal presence of the China Coast Guard (CCG) in the area.
“Upon arriving in the area where BRP Suluan has been monitoring CCG vessel 3103, it was noted that another CCG vessel, identified by bow number 3304, was approaching their location,” Tarriela said.
“This indicates that the CCG may anticipate the PCG deploying two vessels in response. However, as BRP Suluan made its way back to Subic, Zambales, CCG-3304 also retreated further from the coastline,” he added.
In response to CCG’s deployment of another vessel, Tarriela said BRP Cabra engaged in hourly radio communications with CCG 3103 “to remind them of their violations of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award.”
“The presence of the PCG vessel is intended to prevent the illegally operating CCG from getting closer to the Zambales coastline,” he explained.
On Tuesday, PCG reported that China’s monster ship left the area near Zambales. It was last spotted about 19 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal).
