Philippines, US hold maritime exercises

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine and United States naval forces again teamed up and sailed the waters of Manila Bay and Mariveles, Bataan on Friday for the Bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA).

The event saw the Philippine Navy’s BRP Antonio Luna operating with the US Navy’s 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge and the BRP Gabriela Silang of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Two A-29B Super Tucano planes, a C-208B aircraft and a Sokol search and rescue aircraft of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) also joined the maritime exercises.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the MCA was made possible with the participation of the US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM).

Trinidad said the activity dubbed as Bilateral MCA 26-3.1, was aimed at enhancing interoperability among participating forces in support of maritime security and sustaining maritime response in Philippine Maritime Zones.

During the activity, Trinidad said participating units carried out a series of exercises, including a communications check and a photo exercise.

“The successful conduct of the MCA reflected the continuing commitment of the Philippines and the United States to strengthen coordination and cooperation in promoting regional maritime security, stability and adherence to international law,” the AFP said in a statement.

“The AFP remains committed to building strong defense partnerships and enhancing its capability to safeguard the country’s maritime interests and uphold a rules-based international order,” the military declared.

For six days last month, the Philippines, Japan and the US sailed and patrolled the waters and skies of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and carried out combined military drills, including live-fire exercises.

Held from Feb. 20 to 26, the Multilateral MCA saw the deployment of the Philippine Navy’s BRP Antonio Luna with an embarked AW159 helicopter, the PCG’s BRP Gabriela Silang and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey of the USINDOPACOM.