Phl-US joint naval exercises a success, says Navy

By Jaime Laude
Philippine Star, Thursday, July 7, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - The joint naval exercise of the Philippines and the United States in Palawan near disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea ending tomorrow was hailed a success.

Dubbed as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2011, the joint naval exercise is the yearly naval event between the Philippine and US navies in line with the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the two allies.

“The event was a success because we have accomplished all plans and programs for the event,” said Maj. Niel Estrella, spokesman of the Western Command (Wescom) based in Puerto Princesa City.

Estrella said the troops at Wescom are hoping that next year’s CARAT would again be held in Palawan since the island province offers the best training ground for naval exercises.

He said that aside from Filipino sailors and Marines, at least 800 US servicemen who took part in this CARAT have also gained additional experience on the intricacies of a joint naval operation.

Two Philippine Navy ships, the BRP Rizal and BRP Pangasinan, two US Navy guided-missile destroyers USS Chung-Hoon, USS Howard and US Navy’s dive and salvage ship USN Safeguard took part in this year’s 11-day Naval drill within the Sulu Sea area.

The joint naval war games started last June 28 at a time when tension over territorial disputes in the nearby West Philippine Sea have been mounting due to the aggressive behavior of China to assert its claim over the entire South China Sea, part of which is also being claimed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan.

Aside from the routine civil-military operations, Filipino and US troops also took part in various naval drills on the high seas, which include maritime security and interdiction operations to further enhance interoperability among the two naval forces as well as target acquisition or live fire exercises.

“We are hoping that CARAT would again be held here next year as this will open more opportunities for training our own Navy personnel,” Estrella said.

Estrella brushed aside reports that condoms were distributed to US servicemen before disembarking from their warships that docked at the Puerto Princesa City port.

He said that most health and wellness products, including condoms, are always available in all US ships for crewmembers but not for distribution by their officers as reported.

“Of all the health and wellness products located along strategic areas of the ship’s hallway, mediamen on a guided tour on the US warships only reported the condoms and did not mention other health and wellness products like sun blocks that are always available to all crewmembers on board,” Estrella said.

He denied that condoms were distributed to the US soldiers.

“Optional ito to all US servicemen as well as other militaries around the globe,” Estrella said.

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US, Philippine navies kick off 11-day joint exercise

By Xinhua

Philippine Star, Tuesday, June 28, 2011

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Navies from the United States and the Philippines kicked off an 11-day joint exercise this afternoon in waters off the southwestern Philippine island province of Palawan, showcasing the ties and interoperability between the two allies.

Dubbed the 17th "Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training" (CARAT), the exercise was held in the Sulu Sea east of Palawan and is expected to wind up on July 8, both navies said.

Guided missile destroyers USS Chung-Hoon, USS Howard and the diving and salvage ship USNS Safeguard are the US Navy's centerpieces for the exercise, US navy said earlier in a statement, adding that in addition to the three ships, other participants include P-3C Orion aircraft, SH-60 Seahawk aircraft, US Navy Seabees, a US Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team, US Navy Mobile Security Squadron, US Navy Riverine Forces and Medical Support personnel.

On the Philippine side, patrol ships BRP Pangasinan and BRP Rizal are dedicated for the exercise, according to Lt. Noel Cadigal, spokesman of the Philippines' Naval Forces West.

The at-sea phase of the exercise focuses on developing maritime security capabilities in areas such as maritime interdiction, information sharing, combined operations at sea, patrol operations, gunnery exercises, as well as anti-piracy and anti-smuggling exercises.

Ashore training includes such specialties as Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) exercises; diver training; salvage operations; joint medical, dental and civic action projects, aircrew familiarization exchanges, etc.

"The main purpose of the activity is to strengthen the ties and cooperation between the two navies by the exchange of knowledge and skills in the field of navigation and naval operations, particularly maritime defense, port security, resource protection and disaster response," said Philippine Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Omar Tonsay, noting the exercise is among the bilateral trainings conducted under the auspices of the Mutual Defense Treaty, which was signed between the Philippines and the United States in 1951.

In a statement issued prior to the exercise, New Patriotic Alliance, known as Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Filipino, said the fact that the joint naval exercise will be between modern US warships and ageing Philippine patrol ships shows the entire concept of US military assistance is a failure.

However, the exercise and the Mutual Defense Treaty were bombarded by a left-wing group in the Philippines.

"After 60 years of the Mutual Defense Treaty, several decades of US military bases and 12 years of the Visiting Forces Agreement, our AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) has not modernized. We were promised the same in exchange for approving all these one-sided agreements and yet here is our navy, still employing World War II- era ships," said Renato Reyes, Jr., secretary general of the New Patriotic Alliance.

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