MANILA — The National Security Council (NSC) said Wednesday that the Philippine government will continue monitoring the situation at Escoda Shoal (Sabina Shoal) but did not give details.

National Maritime Council and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officials over the weekend said the government has already sent a replacement for BRP Teresa Magbanua, which left the shoal this month because of bad weather, low supplies, and the medical needs of members of its crew.

• No adverse situation at Escoda as PH sends new patrol mission — PCG

The Philippines initially sent the Magbanua to prevent China's supposed reclamation attempts in Escoda — a 137-square-kilometer reef just roughly 70 nautical miles off Palawan mainland and deep within the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

"What I can assure the public is that ‘yong ating monitoring sa Escoda Shoal, hindi po ‘yan nagbabago (our monitoring of Escoda Shoal remains unchanged)," Jonathan Malaya, NSC assistant director general, told ABS-CBN News.

"Ang dami nating assets na puwedeng gamitin para ma-monitor. Kasi ang pinaka-concern natin doon is palpable illegal activities by the People’s Republic of China, like ‘yong posibleng reclamation," he also said.

(We have many assets that can be used for monitoring. Our main concern there is the palpable illegal activities by the People's Republic of China, such as possible reclamation.)

He said the government has committed to monitor the area to prevent that from happening.

Commo. Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, reiterated that the Philippine government did not abandon Escoda.

"Our deployment of coast guard vessels in Escoda remains...a priority for the Philippine Coast Guard," Tarriela said. 

The Philippine Coast Guard has also been monitoring the presence of a Chinese research vessel and its six maritime militia escorts in the West Philippine Sea near Palawan.

• PCG shadows China's research vessel near Palawan

BRP TERESA MAGBANUA

PCG’s 97-meter vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua, which was deployed in mid-April, returned to its homeport in Palawan on September 15 over medical concerns of crew, diminishing supplies, the need for repairs, and bad weather. 

In their last month at Escoda, the crew had been drinking water from the rain and from condensation from the air-conditioning unit because of damage to the ship's desalination system.

The Japanese government is set to send filters and chemicals need for the ship's desalination machine to the Philippines. The delivery is expected to arrive next week. 

Magbanua was constructed in Japan. 

The ship is still at Puerto Princesa City port for repairs to damage from being rammed by a China Coast Guard ship on Aug. 30, which may take months. 

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