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PCG monitors 8 Chinese ships, assists Filipinos at Bajo de Masinloc

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/20240211 MASINLOC.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">This handout photo released on Feb. 11, 2024 shows Philippine Coast Guard personnel distributing food packs to fishers in Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea. <em>Philippine Coast Guard handout photo</em><br id="isPasted"/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED)</strong> — The Philippine Coast Guard&#x27;s BRP Teresa Magbanua monitored the presence of 8 Chinese vessels on its nine-day patrol of Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag, Scarborough), the coast guard said Sunday.</p><p>The Magbanua was deployed to Bajo de Masinloc earlier in the month to help secure Filipino fishers in the shoal in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>The coast guard said the Philippine vessel &quot;professionally engaged&quot; the 4 China Coast Guard and 4 Chinese Maritime Militia ships &quot;reiterating the clear and principled position of the Philippines in accordance with maritime law.&quot;</p><p>According to a revised statement that Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, posted on social media platform X, the China Coast Guard vessels 3105, 3302, 3063 and 3064 “shadowed the PCG vessel on more than 40 occasions”, at one point being just 176 meters from the Magbanua.</p><p>&quot;The CCG vessels performed dangerous and blocking maneuvers at sea against BRP Teresa Magbanua four times, with the CCG vessels crossing the bow of the PCG vessel twice, recklessly disregarding the ‘Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea’(COLREGS) once again,&quot; the Coast Guard also said.</p><p>Bajo de Masinloc saw tension between Philippine and Chinese vessels in December over an attempt to stop a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources boat from distributing food and fuel to Filipinos there.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/10/23/envoys-stress-need-to-respect-unclos-after-bajo-de-masinloc-incident">Envoys stress need to respect UNCLOS after Bajo de Masinloc incident</a></div><p>The Magbanua was able to distribute food packs to more than 100 fishers working from 14 fishing boats in the area, the coats guard also said Sunday.</p><p>&quot;The Coast Guard&#x27;s white ships will consistently ensure Filipino fishermen&#x27;s safety and welfare,&quot; Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan, PCG commandant, said in the release.</p><p>A BFAR ships sent to Iroqouis (Rozul) Reef, also in the West Philippine Sea, last week reported it spotted no Chinese ships in the area when it conducted a resupply mission to Filipino fishermen in the area.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/9/bfar-no-chinese-vessels-spotted-during-recent-rozul-reef-resupply-mission-2242">BFAR: No Chinese vessels spotted during recent Rozul Reef resupply mission</a></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bayQBkLTmgU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>BRP Teresa Magbanua was deployed to Bajo de Masinloc earlier in the month to help secure Filipino fishers in the shoal in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

BRP Teresa Magbanua was deployed to Bajo de Masinloc earlier in the month to help secure Filipino fishers in the shoal in the West Philippine Sea.