China fears another Ayungin

It was a graceful exit of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) flagship vessel BRP – Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas – Teresa Magbanua from the Escoda or Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). After more than five months stationed at the wide expanse at the WPS, the 63 PCG men and women onboard the BRP Teresa Magbanua got a well-deserved respite. They vowed to be back as soon as their furlough on land with their respective families and loved ones ends.

Last Sunday, BRP Teresa Magbanua left Escoda Shoal and returned to port due to bad weather, dwindling supplies and the need to evacuate four PCG personnel who suffered dehydration and gastroenteritis after they ran out of safe drinking water. As reported by Magbanua’s commanding officer, Lt. Commodore Efren Duran, they collected rainwater and extracted from the exhaust water from the ship’s air-conditioning which they boiled for drinking water.

It was just unfortunate that the return to homeport of the PCG ship came a few days after the regular meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) between Manila and Beijing held here last week. The BCM is a regular dialogue meeting which normally include matters related to the South China Sea (SCS). Hence, there should be no fuss over supposed withdrawal of the PCG out of the Escoda Shoal.

Escoda Shoal is located a few hundred kilometers away from mainland Palawan and within our 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) at the WPS. With a total area more than 137 square kilometers, the BRP Teresa Magbanua ship was on sea patrol around Escoda Shoal to protect the fish and marine environment around it and our other rich sea resources below it.

Aside from the Philippines and China, five other countries claim certain islands, islets, shoals, atolls, reefs and rocks around the SCS. But only the Philippines contested and got the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling in July 2016 that invalidated China’s “nine-dash-line” claims over the entire SCS.

While both the Philippines and China are signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Beijing continues to ignore the PCA ruling that upheld our country’s 200-nautical mile EEZ.

The continuing dangerous maneuvers by Chinese maritime forces aided by militia-manned vessels repeatedly blocked Philippine efforts to deliver food and equipment and supplies to the ship and the crew of BRP Teresa Magbanua. Thus, the patrol ship’s desalinating and filter equipment used to convert saltwater into drinking water started malfunctioning. The Magbanua crew were reduced to eating only lugaw or rice porridge for nearly three weeks. But our Philippine ship is crewed by tough PCG men and women who live up to the legacy of the Filipino heroine carrying their call sign.

On a historical note, the PCG’s flagship is named after one of the greatest heroines in our country’s history in fighting for independence and sovereignty. Teresa Magbanua y Ferraris is dubbed as the “Visayan Joan of Arc” for her bravery in battlefield. Her exploits were included in the “Amazing Filipino Women Heroes” in the official records of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), an attached agency of the Department of National Defense (DND).

She was a schoolteacher when she got involved in the revolutionary forces. From the PVAO website, we learn that she participated in several battles against American forces when the Philippine-American War broke out in 1898. To wit: “The revolutionary forces gradually took over all of Panay, until in December 1899 they entered the town of Jaro, Iloilo in triumph. In recognition of her military contribution, she was given a prominent part in the celebrations, leading her disheveled troops on a prancing white horse.”

The PVAO record further narrated: “While not an active fighter during World War II, Teresa did what she could to resist Japanese forces during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. She sold her personal belongings to purchase food, which she would then give to the local guerillas. Shortly after the outbreak of the war, her husband Alejandro Balderas died and Teresa sold her property in Iloilo to help finance the guerillas.”

Carrying this legacy of our country’s late freedom fighter, the PCG decision to bring her back to shore should not be seen as a retreat.

The 97-meter patrol vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) sailed back to its homeport for much-needed repair and refurbishing. Anchored at Escoda Shoal, our ship stayed the course amid persistent harassment maneuvers by Chinese Coast Guard ships, big and small. The BRP Teresa Magbanua is just one of the PCG vessels regularly deployed to the WPS in protecting not just our sovereign rights but also to assist Filipino fishermen at sea around it.

However, the ship’s engine room got damaged when a much bigger Chinese Coast Guard ship intentionally rammed it last Aug. 31. Commodore Duran suspected the intent was to paralyze the Magbanua so that Beijing will have an excuse to tow it out of Escoda Shoal.

The PCG ship Magbanua at is now undergoing much needed repair and maintenance work. Also deprived of repair and resupply by the continued Chinese blockade, the Philippine Navy warship BRP Sierra Madre remains anchored at Ayungin Shoal. Ayungin Shoal, or Second Thomas Shoal, is a submerged reef located in the Spratly Islands.

The Philippines first took possession of Ayungin in 1999, after the BRP Sierra Madre was intentionally grounded and permanently anchored at the reef. Since then, it has been serving as a Philippine outpost. Ayungin Shoal is closest to our own Kalayaan Island group, the biggest of which is Pag-asa island. It lies about 500 kilometers (310 miles) west of Puerto Princesa, capital of Palawan province.

Beijing is not relishing the potential scenario of another Philippine ship to foil their self-proclaimed “historical claims” around the disputed SCS. Perhaps in their mind China declares “not another Ayungin” should ever rise again. It is not a far-fetched scenario.