(NI JESSE KABEL)

AGAD nilinaw ng pamunuan ng Philippine Navy na walang kinalaman sa idinaos na eleksyon ang pagdaong sa isang puerto sa Pilipinas ang dalawang U.S warship.

Batay sa report,  humimpil  sa lalawigan ng Palawan  ang dalawang U.S minesweepers  tatlong araw bago idaos ang May 13 midterm election.

Sa ulat na ibinahagi ng US Pacific fleet, dumaong sa Puerto Princesa ang kanilang Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships na USS Pioneer (MCM 9) at  USS Patriot (MCM 7) para sa official port visit at resupply and routine maintenance purposes noong Mayo 9.

Sa inilabas na statement,  nasa resupply mission lamang ang dalawang barko at sasamantalahin nila ito para mas higit pang mapalalim ang kanilang kaalaman sa kultura ng mga Filipino.

“Pioneer and Patriot sailors will also have the opportunity to learn about the Filipino culture and engage with the Puerto Princesa community. For many Filipino-American sailors, visiting the Philippines is a chance to reconnect with their heritage.”

“This isn’t just a chance for us to have fun and relax. We have sailors on board who have family in the Philippines and some were even born here,” pahayag pa ni  Lt. Cmdr. Robert Wayland, commanding officer ng Pioneer.

“So we are personally invested in this country, and it is more than just a pit stop. For some sailors, it’s a visit home,”pahayag naman ni  Master Chief Petty Officer Andrew Tyler, command master chief ng  Pioneer, na ipinanganak sa Pilipinas.

“Magandang pagkakataon ito para balikan ang Pilipinas . Maraming lugar sa bansa ang kamangha-mangha ang kagandahan at isa rito ang Palawan ani Tyler.

Ang Pioneer at  Patriot ay kapwa bahagi ng Commander, Mine Countermeasures Squadron 7 at  forward deployed sa  Sasebo, Japan. Kapwa sila nasa ilalim ng pangangasiwa ng U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations para matiyak ang regional peace and stability sa bahagi ng Indo Pacific region.