PCG: To showcase the interoperability in responding to incidents at sea, various simulation of  exercises were conducted between the Philippine Coast Guard together with the Japan Coast Guard (JCG), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and in cooperation with the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia-Information Sharing Center (ReCAAP-ISC) as part of the 12th Combined Maritime Law Enforcement (MARLEN) Exercise held at vicinity waters off Talicud Island, Igacos, Davao Del Norte to be slated on June 03 this year.

A 105-meter JCG patrol vessel, Echigo (PLH 08) equipped with a helicopter onboard, JA916A were deployed together with PCG vessels such as BRP Pampanga (SARV-003), BRP Tubbataha (MRRV 4401), BRP Capones (MRRV 4404) with rubber boats of two MRRVs and PCG - manned Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel MCS 3003 participated in various operations consisting of communications exercise; PCG rubber boat demonstrations which includes maneuvering exercise and counter-piracy exercise.

The exercise was attended by VICE ADMIRAL SHUICHI IWANAMI JCG, Vice Commandant for Operations; COMMODORE LYNDON F LATORRE PCG, Commander of Coast Guard District western Visayas and CAPTAIN OSCAR C ENDONA JR PCG, Commander of Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao, other PCG district commanders JICA experts and representatives from JCG and JICA.

Prior the said exercise, a Rubber Boat Operation Training was conducted by the JCG MARLEN Experts to 20 PCG personnel from the crew of participating PCG vessels and personnel of Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao in Davao City slated last 30 May and had their culminating ceremony yesterday, 02 June.