Philippine, US Coast Guard hold search and rescue exercise off Bataan

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) conducted a two-day joint search and rescue (SAR) exercise off Bataan to prepare for any situation involving maritime safety.

In a statement, the PCG said the activity was held on September 2 and 3, 24 nautical miles southwest of the Mariveles, Bataan coast.

PCG Fleet Commander CG Rear Admiral Charlie Rances said the exercise aimed to address maritime safety challenges by assessing the PCG's and USCG's capabilities for information exchange and interoperability at sea among participating surface, and air assets.
 
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said the mission also aimed to contribute towards attaining a connected, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.

Aside from SAR exercises, the at-sea drills involved activities on communications, maneuvering, photo, decoding messages through flag hoisting, flashing, publication, small boat operations, boarding operations, and medical assistance.

There were also a series of sea-phase demonstrations to conclude the port visit of USCG Cutter Midgett, which arrived in Manila on August 30, 2022.

The USCGC Midgett is the fourth USCG vessel to visit the Philippines after the USCGC Waesche in 2012, USCGC Bertholf in 2019, and USCGC Munro in 2021.

On the second day of the joint exercise, the PCG said its 83-meter offshore patrol vessel, BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), responded to a supposed distress call from a simulated cargo vessel, BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702).

Meanwhile, the USCG Cutter Midgett, which was transiting in the vicinity, was requested to assist.

The BRP Gabriela Silang also deployed its rigid-hulled inflatable boat to rescue the remaining survivors out of the water and turn them over for medical assessment.

While underway, participating PCG vessels performed their regular anti-piracy exercise.

The PCG said two teams of its Law Enforcement Afloat Detachment (LEAD) performed an evidence preservation, investigation, and case build-up to catch the offenders.

PCG commandant CG Admiral Artemio Abu said piracy was “a high sea and universal crime where cooperation among Coast Guard counterparts is crucial to achieving success.”

Members of the PCG LEAD teams trained with the help of the USCG, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and the Japan Coast Guard to ensure the proper execution of visit, board, search, and seizure during anti-piracy operations, the PCG added. — DVM, GMA News