FOUR days after a Philippine frigate ran aground in the area of the West Philippine Sea, authorities are still trying to extricate the ship.

Two tugboats from private firms have been tapped although several countries, including the US, China and South Korea, offered to provide equipment that would remove the BRP Gregorio del Pilar (FF-15), the Philippine Navy’s flagship, which has been stuck at the Hasa-hasa (Half Moon) shoal, between Pagasa (Thitu) Island and the southern tip of Palawan, since Wednesday, according to Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, Navy chief.