US missile destroyer docks in Subic

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines â€“ Another American warship, the USS Stockdale, arrived yesterday afternoon for a routine port call in Subic Bay. 

Officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said clearance was granted to the USS Stockdale, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer,  to dock at Alava Pier at the Subic Feeport.

The Stockdale is the third US warship to visit the country recently following the arrival last week of the nuclear attack submarine USS Cheyenne that also docked in Subic to replenish its supplies.

The American minesweeper USS Guardian ran aground in Tubbataha off Palawan while sailing for Indonesia after a port call in Puerto Princesa City on Jan. 17.

The ship remains stuck in Tubbataha while waiting to be broken up to save the reef from further damage.

In a statement, Cdr. Lex Walker, commanding officer of Stockdale, said their stop in Subic would permit the ship to replenish supplies and allow the crew to have some rest and relaxation.

“Visiting Subic Bay provides us with a great opportunity to continue the long-term relationship between the Philippines and the United States and that is very important to us,” he said.

Walker said the destroyer has several Filipino-American sailors among the crew.

The Fil-Am sailors have relatives in Baguio City, Manila, Marikina City, Orion, Olongapo City, Quezon City, and Santa Monica. 

Sailors Geno Uy (GSM2) and Ryan Angeles (AM2) were born in the Philippines and emigrated to the US in recent years.

Others like Joel Marsigian (AM2) and Dean Rivera-Villanueva (ADAN) were born in the US but still have relatives in the Philippines. 

Many of the Stockdale’s sailors plan to visit relatives while in port.

This will be the Stockdale’s first visit to the Philippines. The visit is part of the ship’s nine-month deployment to the Western Pacific that began last month.

Olongapo City Councilor Bugsy de los Reyes welcomed the arrival of the Stockdale, saying it would help attract more tourists to the free port.

“We hope that this routine port call of the USS Stockdale would help spread the news about how Subic has transformed itself from a military base to a tourism showcase, and also promote Olongapo City as a tourist destination,” De los Reyes said. 

Meanwhile, the militant group Anakbayan yesterday assailed the continued arrival of US military vessels despite the grounding of the Guardian in Tubbataha.

“It’s as if nothing happened. It only adds insult to injury and insults our laws and independence. It’s clear that they have no intent to be held accountable for their atrocities against our country,” said Anakbayan national chairman Vencer Crisostomo. – With Sandy Araneta, Bebot Sison