US aircraft carrier's visit peaceful

MANILA, Philippines - American aircraft carrier USS George Washington’s four-day visit in the country was relatively peaceful, police said yesterday.

“There (were) zero crime incidents. And the American Navy officials are grateful on the security we gave them wherever they went into Metro Manila during their four-day stay,” said Metro police director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales.

He also said the more than 7,000 sailors on board the carrier behaved themselves as they went to various tourist spots and conducted their humanitarian missions.

“In their four-day stay in the country, we recorded no crime incidents nor complaints like harassments,” Rosales said.

The American aircraft carrier and its two destroyer escorts, USS Cowpense and USS Frizgerald, arrived in the country Wednesday and docked behind the Mall of Asia in Pasay City. The American fleet sailed to its next destination before lunch Saturday.

Rosales said Jake Wohlman, regional security officer and fleet commander of the American war vessels, expressed satisfaction that their security was well taken care of during their stay in the Philippines.

The American sailors held medical and dental missions at the Veterans hospital in Quezon City and a “read-along” project at the Atienza Elementary School in Baseco, Tondo, Manila.

At least 650 policemen from the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) were mobilized to provide security to the American sailors.

Rosales said Wohlman told him each sailor spent at least $1,000 each for souvenirs and other items that contributed heavily to the country’s economy and tourism industry. – Non Alquitran