US warship stopped off Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Navy gunboats stopped a US warship off the coast of Mindanao and Navy commandos went on board as part of regional war games with the US Navy.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said commandos from Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao and Naval Force Western Mindanao boarded the USNS Safeguard during a drill concluding the weeklong regional naval anti-terror exercise dubbed SEACAT (Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism).

SEACAT involved a series of activities that started Monday in waters off the Zamboanga Peninsula.

The military exercise called for the deployment of Navy gunboats, patrol ships, and Naval Special Operations commandos to engage the Safeguard as part of Maritime Interdiction Operation and Visit Board Search and Seizure.

“These activities focused on information exchange, coordinated surveillance operations, locating, tracking, and intercepting of enemies that allow the participating navies to employ appropriate measures in dealing with pirates and other lawless elements at sea during real-life situations,” Arevalo said.

A Philippine Navy reconnaissance plane monitored the Safeguard’s movement in Mindanao waters.

Following the conclusion of the exercise in General Santos City the other day, the Safeguard sailed to Singapore for the closing ceremony of the regional sea drill.

“By undertaking the exercise, participating navies are exposed to techniques useful to combat maritime threats and fight lawless elements operating in the high seas,” Arevalo said. – Jaime Laude