BRP Teresa Magbanua stationed off Zambales to deter CCG's illegal presence

The BRP Teresa Magbanua remains stationed off the coast of Zambales to deter the Chinese Coast Guard's (CCG) illegal presence in Philippine waters, according to a statement from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday.

A CCG vessel with bow number '5901' has been sailing illegally within 95 nautical miles off Zambales, maintaining its presence despite adverse sea conditions and continuing the pattern of unauthorized activity.

Commodore Jay Tarriela emphasized that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s policy aims to prevent the normalization and legitimization of CCG's illegal actions in Philippine waters.

The deployment of BRP Teresa Magbanua is intended to safeguard Filipino fishermen from harassment or intimidation, allowing them to carry out their activities safely.

Tarriela highlighted the PCG's commitment to maintaining a visible presence while conducting radio challenges to address the unlawful presence of the Chinese Coast Guard within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Despite 3-5 meter waves in Zambales, the Teresa Magbanua continues its operations and has successfully pushed away another CCG vessel, achieving a distance of up to 97 nautical miles offshore.

The PCG said it will continue to challenge the Chinese sea craft to remind China of its intrusion and prevent the normalization of their illegal activities.