MANILA PHILIPPINES – The BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) and BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) arrived in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, to participate in the US-PHL Balikatan exercise on Wednesday
The two PCG capital ships arrive with 150 personnel from the Coast Guard Special Operations Force, Coast Guard Medical Service, and Coast Guard Fleet that will join the last leg of Balikatan in the vicinity waters of Laoag.
PCG Spokesperson, CG Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, said the PCG will participate in the maritime strike team drill, together with US and Philippine contingents.
Balilo added that before proceeding to Ilocos Norte, these PCG capital ships were deployed to monitor and secure the Balikatan exercise areas.
Meanwhile, Balilo shared that at around 10:45AM on 01 May 2024, BRP Melchora Aquino spotted one People’s Liberation Army (PLA)
Navy vessel of China and two other Chinese-flagged vessels in the vicinity of Itbayat,
Batanes, where the Balikatan Exercise was being held.
He said that the BRP Melchora Aquino engaged in radio challenges with the two unidentified Chinese-flagged vessels
“Our BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) engaged in radio challenges with the two unidentified Chinese-flagged vessels and later saw them leaving the area. While the PLA Navy ship, which was positioned farther away than the two other Chinese ships, had also left the area,” CG Rear Admiral Balilo said.
“On the part of the PCG, our task was to secure the perimeter during the Balikatan Exercises to make sure that there would be no intruder, and to provide assistance in case of search and rescue,” he emphasized.