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Michael Punongbayan - The Philippine Star
June 21, 2026 | 12:00am
The BRP Melchora Aquino sails as participating vessels execute division tactics maneuvers, demonstrating coordinated maritime operations and interoperability during the Phl-United States Bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity in the West Philippine Sea.
AFP Facebook Page
MANILA, Philippines — For six straight days, Philippine and US coast guard and naval forces sailed the West Philipine Sea in a joint exercise that ended last Friday.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) announced yesterday the completion of this year’s fourth and latest Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA), which began last June 14.
The Philippine Navy’s BRP Diego Silang joined the drills along with the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Sindangan.
Philippine air assets deployed for the exercise were a AW109 helicopter, FA-50 fighter aircraft, C-208B aircraft and Sokol helicopters.
The USINDOPACOM, for its part, deployed US Coast Guard cutters Charles Moulthrope and Emlen Tunnell and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment of the US Marine Corps took part in the drill.
The joint drills included search and rescue; visit, board, search and seizure; communication exercises, division tactics/officer of the watch maneuvers, photo exercise and joint fires rehearsal.
“The successful conduct of the MCA highlights the enduring commitment of the Philippines and the United States to strengthen maritime cooperation, enhance maritime domain awareness and reaffirm support for a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region,” the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.
