PH, US hold maritime cooperative activity in waters off Palawan

BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16), USCG Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752), and BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV 9702) sail during the 6th bilateral maritime cooperative activity on May 20. — Photo from Armed Forces of the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and its counterpart in the United States conducted the 6th bilateral maritime cooperative activity (MCA) in the strategic waters of Palawan and Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday.

Among the assets deployed during the MCA were the Philippine Navy’s BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16), BRP Domingo Deluana (PG905), and an AW109 naval helicopter, according to the AFP.

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It added that the Philippine Air Force also sent Super Tucano and Sokol helicopters, while the Philippine Coast Guard deployed its BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV 9702) and BRP Malapascua (MRRV 4403).

On the other hand, the US Indo-Pacific Command sent its US Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) and the US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft

“Marking a milestone in maritime collaboration, this was the first time the US Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard jointly participated in an MCA, highlighting a growing whole-of-nation approach to maritime cooperation,” the AFP said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The activity featured a series of exercises, including Communications Check Exercise, Search and Rescue Exercise, Division Tactics and Officer of the Watch Maneuver, Photo Exercise, and Finish Exercise,” it added. /das