Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Ilan Fluss paid a courtesy visit to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant, CG Admiral Leopoldo V Laroya at the National Headquarters, Port Area, Manila yesterday, 13 December 2021.

Ambassador Fluss and CG Admiral Laroya discussed bilateral cooperation initiatives between the Philippines and Israel, as well as the way forward in further promoting a stronger relationship between the two countries.

The PCG and Israeli Government are working together to improve the Coast Guard's delivery of public service, particularly the conduct of maritime security and law enforcement operations in the vast exclusive economic zone of the Philippines towards combatting piracy and the proliferation of lawless elements at sea.

On 15 October 2021, the PCG showcased its newly acquired Remote Controlled Weapon System (RCWS) from the Israeli Government.

Utilizing government-to-government transactions, the PCG and Israel’s Ministry of Defense collaborated on the acquisition of the RCWS in 2018. Department of Transportation - Philippines (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade fully supported the initiative.

The said system, the first-of-its-kind acquisition in PCG history, was installed on eight Coast Guard multi-role response vessels (MRRVs).

Other officials who joined the meeting included Defense Attaché, Mr. Raz Roy Shabtay; Executive Assistant to the Defense Attaché, Mr. Ariel Osterreicher; Deputy Commandant for Administration, CG Vice Admiral Oscar C Endona Jr, and other senior PCG officers.