The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) conducted a multilateral combined exercise off 1 Nautical Mile North of Sangley Point, Cavite City, yesterday, November 25, 2018.

Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas Suluan (Multi-Role Response Vessel 4406), BRP Boracay (Fast Patrol Boat 2401), two Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs), JCG patrol vessel “Echigo” (PLH08) with its onboard Helicopter Sikorsky S76D (JA916A) were the participating assets dispatched to serve as responding units while BRP Panglao (FPB 2402) acted as the victim vessel.

As part of the exercise, PCG and JCG vessels undertook three drills such as counter-piracy exercise (Information Sharing, Searching, Chasing and Capturing and Suppressing Exercises), firefighting exercise with rescuing exercise and water spray exercise and farewell exercise.

Captain Rolando Lizor N Punzalan Jr PCG, Acting Commander of National Capital Region-Central Luzon was the PCG Exercise Director while the Vice Commander for Operations of JCG, Vice Admiral Takahiro Okushima led the JCG delegation.

The exercise was the culminating activity of “Echigo” prior returning to its mother port in Niigata Center, Hokuriku Region located in the northwestern part of Honshu Mainland of Japan.

Echigo arrived in Manila on November 23 after the communication exercise (COMEX) last November 21 off Basilan Strait with the PCG’s newly acquired 44 meters MRRVs from Japan, the BRP Cape San Agustin and BRP Bagacay.