After over five months at sea, BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) is set to return to the Philippines after what officials called her successful mission in the disputed waters.

In a statement, National Maritime Council (NMC) chair and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the vessel has carried out her sentinel duties against overwhelming odds.

“BRP Teresa Magbanua is now sailing back to her homeport with her mission accomplished,” he said on Sunday, Sept. 15.

“During her deployment at Escoda Shoal, she challenged an encirclement by a larger flotilla of intruders, battled inclement weather, with her crew surviving on diminished daily provisions,” he added.

Bersamin lauded those aboard BRP Teresa Magbanua for their dedication and that the vessel’s return to the country will allow them to get the necessary medical assistance.

“What made this possible is the determination and dedication of the men and women on board, who crewed her in the finest tradition of our Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sailors, and in honor of the heroine for whom she was named,” he said.

“This repositioning will allow the Magbanua to address the medical needs of some of her crew, undergo needed repairs, and allow her crew to enjoy a well-deserved furlough and reunion with their loved ones,” he added.

Bersamin said BRP Teresa Magbanua will resume her mission after she has been resupplied and repaired and her crew recharged.

“She will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission, along with other PCG and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) assets, as defenders of our sovereignty,” he said.

In a phone interview, NMC spokesman Alexander Lopez said it is uncertain how long the repairs will take or if BRP Teresa Magbanua will be sent back to Escoda Shoal. He, however, assured that country will maintain its presence in the area.

“Our presence will be sustained and we will keep on monitoring and documenting any or all illegal activities ng kabila for our strategic purpose,” he told reporters.

“The government resolved we will maintain our presence in whatever way, and we will continue to monitor and enforce our rights, exercise our rights, sovereign rights, sovereignty and jurisdiction over the area,” he added.

Last month, BRP Teresa Magbanua sustained damages after it was intentionally hit several times by a China Coast Guard vessel.

PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said Magbanua was initially surrounded by numerous Chinese maritime forces and militia vessels “in different areas that are proximate within the distance” of the anchored PCG vessel.

He added that China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5202 turned around and then "directly and intentionally" rammed the Philippine vessel's port beam.

"It is important for us to take note that this ramming happened despite our unprovoked action and presence in Escoda Shoal," Tarriela said.

According to Tarriela, Escoda Shoal has been an issue for the Chinese government since the Philippines deployed BRP Teresa Magbanua last April 15. China has filed a diplomatic protest for BRP Teresa Magbanua to withdraw from Escoda Shoal. 

They also used different platforms to highlight and see this as a semi-grounded or a possible place for creating a formal deployment base, he said.

"So as far as the Chinese Coast Guard is concerned, these are their different appreciation of our deployment for Teresa Magbanua," Tarriela said.

"But, as I said, for the Philippine Coast Guard, the reason and objective of the deployment of Teresa Magbanua is only purely for us to carry out a legal and legitimate Coast Guard operation within our own exclusive economic zone," he added.