PCG joins last leg of Balikatan 2024 in Laoag

From the Philippine News Agency (May 8, 2024): PCG joins last leg of Balikatan 2024 in Laoag (By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz)

COAST GUARD SHIPS. The BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) and BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) patrolling Philippine waters in this undated photo. The two Philippine Coast Guard will participate in the final leg of the Balikatan 2024 exercise between the United States and the Philippines in the vicinity waters of Laoag, Ilocos Norte on Wednesday (May 8, 2024). (Photo courtesy of PCG)

MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed two capital ships and their crew to participate in the final leg of the Philippines-United States Balikatan exercise on Wednesday.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) and BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) were deployed along with 150 personnel from the Coast Guard Special Operations Force, Coast Guard Medical Service, and Coast Guard Fleet.

“The PCG will participate in the maritime strike team drill, together with US and Philippine contingents,” Balilo said.

The exercise is being held in the vicinity waters of Laoag.

Both ships were deployed to monitor and secure Balikatan exercise areas before proceeding to Ilocos Norte for the final leg of the event, 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 said.

On May 1, Balilo said BRP Melchora Aquino spotted one People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessel and two other China-flagged ships in the waters of Itbayat, Batanes --one of the areas of the Balikatan exercise.

“Our BRP Melchora Aquino engaged in radio challenges with the two unidentified Chinese-flagged vessels and later saw them leaving the area,” he said.

The PLA Navy ship, positioned farther away from the two other Chinese ships, also left the area following the radio challenges.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1224306