The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), through the Task Force Pagsasanay, will conduct anti-terrorism and anti-piracy exercises in Southern Mindanao, particularly at the vicinity waters off Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

The week-long maritime security and law enforcement exercises will happen on 21 to 27 June 2021. It will be participated by four capital ships of the national government – the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), BRP Tubbataha (MRRV-4401), BRP Bagacay (MRRV-4410), and BRP Cape Engaño (MRRV-4411) –as well as Fast Response Boats from the 47 PCG stations and sub-stations in the area.

Pilots and technical personnel of the Coast Guard Aviation Force (CGAF) will also join the training, utilizing BN Islander Plane, PCG-251 and H145 light twin-engine airbus helicopters, CGH-1451 and CGH-1452.

The exercises will focus on anti-terrorism through boarding exercises and anti-piracy through robbery at sea interdiction. It will also test PCG's recently acquired ship-based and coastal monitoring and communications capabilities for search and rescue (SAR) and law enforcement. These will be done at the Sibutu Passage and Basilan Strait where series of piracy and kidnapping incidents have transpired in previous years.

The Philippines is a contracting party in the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combatting Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), being strategically located at the crossroads of major international sea-lanes vital to the growth of the region, particularly the Sibutu passage.

PCG Commandant, Admiral George V Ursabia Jr said the Philippines is fully committed to the mission of the ReCAAP in enhancing regional cooperation through information sharing, capacity building, and cooperative arrangements in combating piracy and armed robbery against ships. 

A manifestation of such was the important role the Philippines played in holding the Chairmanship of the Governing Council of ReCAAP from 2011 to 2013 and 2018 to 2021.