USS George Washington arrives in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - The aircraft carrier USS George Washington is on port call in Manila following a two-day joint exercise with the Philippine Navy in the West Philippine Sea.

Philippine Navy spokesman Lt. Commander Marideth Domingo said that BRP Gregorio del Pilar  (PF-15)  along with the George Washington Carrier strike group, USS Antietam (CG-54), a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser and a Japanese destroyer, JS Sazanami took part in  naval maneuvers, including  formation,   gunnery   and night classic publication exercises on Wednesday.

“This is purely for training purposes and the West Philippine Sea area is the most appropriate venue because (the battle group) is heading to Manila. It’s nothing to do with anything else. We are not projecting anything,” she said.

Domingo said the JS Sazanami is embedded with the George Washington battle group.

After the joint naval drill, the Japanese destroyer and PF-15   performed their assigned missions, while the George Washington proceeded to Manila for port call.

The US embassy said the naval drill further demonstrates closer relations between the Philippines and the US.

“The USS George Washington arrived in Manila today (yesterday), for a routine port call that heightens the historic and military connections between the Philippines and the United States,” the US embassy said.

“BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF 15) of the Philippine Navy joined the George Washington Carrier Strike Group off the coast of the Philippines from Oct. 22-23 to conduct maneuvering, communications and gunnery exercises to further enhance their ability to work together and demonstrate their commitment to the US - Philippines alliance.”

The George Washington, an aircraft carrier, can carry fighter aircraft and tons of cargoes and thousands of military personnel.

It was one of the first US ships to arrive in Samar island following the government’s request for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief for victims of Typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas last year.

Commissioned on July 4, 1992, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier  George Washington is the fourth ship to bear the name.

It is forward deployed to the 7th Fleet area of operations from her homeport in Yokosuka, Japan.

Capt. Greg Fenton commands the George Washington  with its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 under the command of Capt. William Koyama.

It has a crew of approximately 5,500 sailors, 320 of whom are Filipino-Americans. – With Pia Lee-Brago