Another US ship docks in Subic

From the Daily Tribune (Feb 5): Another US ship docks in Subic

Barely three days after the arrival of one of its submarines, the US Navy is sending a missile-guided destroyer for another port call at the former US naval base in Subic Bay, Zambales today.

In a statement issued yesterday, the US Embassy announced that the USS Stockdale, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, will arrive in Subic Bay for a routine port visit and to enable the ship to replenish supplies and offer rest and relaxation to its personnel.

“Visiting Subic Bay provides us with a great opportunity to continue the long-term relationship between the Philippines and the United States and that is very important to us,” said Commodore Lex Walker, commanding officer of the USS Stockdale.

He also spoke about the diversity of his crew.

“We have quite a few Filipino-American sailors among our crew, and I hope that the citizens of the Philippines can look at our ship and see that their people and their culture are well represented and respected in the US Navy,” Walker said.

The US official said 15 Filipino-Americans sail on the destroyer, among them sailors with family ties with Baguio City, Manila, Marikina City, Orion, Olongapo City, Quezon City and Santa Monica.

Among the Filipino-Americans detailed at the ship are Geno Uy (GSM2) and Ryan Angeles (AM2), who were born in the Philippines and immigrated to the US in recent years. Others, including Joel Marsigian (AM2) and Dean Rivera-Villanueva (ADAN), were born in the US but still have relatives in the Philippines. Many of the Stockdale’s sailors plan to visit family while in port.

The US Embassy said this was the ship’s first visit to the Philippines as part of its nine-month deployment to the Western Pacific that began last month.

Only last Friday, US submarine USS Cheyenne arrived in Subic Bay for a similar port call. The Los Angeles-class submarine is still in the country.

The docking of the two US Navy assets was allowed as another US warship, the USS Guardian, remained aground on Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea. The minesweeper has been stuck to the World Heritage Site since Jan. 17.

The increased frequency of visits by US naval assets to the Philippines has been linked to the tension between Manila and China over the disputed West Philippine Sea.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/item/10106-another-us-ship-docks-in-subic