MATAGUMPAY at mapayapang natapos ang 11th Bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) sa pagitan ng Philippine Navy at United States Navy sa West Philippine Sea mula Enero 25 hanggang 26, 2026.

Gayunman, hindi umano pinalampas ng People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ng China ang naturang aktibidad at binuntutan ang joint naval drill ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos, ayon kay Navy spokesman for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad.

“Yes, as reported, we had a bilateral MCA with the US Navy participated by one Philippine Navy ship, seven aircraft, and a Coast Guard vessel. On the part of the US Navy, they had one destroyer and two aircraft,” ani Trinidad.

Sa ulat, ipinadala ng Philippine Navy ang pinakabago nitong guided-missile frigate na BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), kasama ang Philippine Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301).

Samantala, nag-deploy ang US Navy ng guided-missile destroyer na USS John Finn (DDG-113).

Habang isinasagawa ang drills, namataan sa loob ng exercise box ang Xianning, isang frigate ng PLAN.

“There was one monitored PLA Navy within the exercise box. It did not conduct any aggressive or coercive action,” ayon kay RAdm Trinidad.

Kabilang sa mga isinagawang pagsasanay ang deck landing qualification, kung saan nag-landing ang Philippine Navy AW109 helicopter sa BRP Antonio Luna habang nagpapatuloy ang drills.

Ang mga aral mula sa aktibidad ay maaaring gamitin sa search and rescue, supply missions, at medical evacuations. Layunin ng MCA na palakasin ang interoperability ng dalawang bansa sa maritime patrolling.

(JESSE RUIZ)