Joint PH-US patrol in WPS could involve navy, air force
Published May 10, 2023 07:48 am
The anticipated joint patrol operation of the Philippines and United States in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is now on the planning stage with either of the two countries' navy or air force seen to get involved, the Philippine Navy (PN) revealed.
(Photo: Philippine Navy) “There is no final detail yet. It can be navy to navy, it can be air force to air force. We wait for the official guidelines,” Rear Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr., PN Flag Officer in Command, said on Tuesday, May 9. “[It’s in the] discussion, planning stage so far,” he added. The DND and the US Department of Defense had announced in February that a joint patrol will be carried out by the two countries in the WPS to address shared regional security challenges in the region. Earlier this month, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez was quoted in media reports as saying that the planned joint patrols by the Philippines and US in the WPS could start in the third quarter of this year. “Yes, I also read that but again we have to wait for the official guidance,” Adaci said when asked about the matter. He said the Department of National Defense (DND) is the one coordinating with the US’ side to iron out the details of the joint patrol, and the Navy is just waiting for orders from the higher command to begin the operation. For now, Adaci stressed that the Navy has been conducting “enhanced” maritime patrols in the WPS along with other government agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard as they increased the frequency of such operations “for us to protect our borders.” “That has always been the policy of our Navy through our operational commands. We do regular patrols. WesCom [Western Command] is the one in charge of the area and it conducts regular patrols in the West Philippine Sea,” he said. He said the Navy still observes the presence of foreign vessels in the WPS during their patrols. “But we give it to our sailors because they continue to perform their mandate, patrolling the area, even if the presence of the other side is there,” Adaci stated.
(Photo: Philippine Navy) “There is no final detail yet. It can be navy to navy, it can be air force to air force. We wait for the official guidelines,” Rear Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr., PN Flag Officer in Command, said on Tuesday, May 9. “[It’s in the] discussion, planning stage so far,” he added. The DND and the US Department of Defense had announced in February that a joint patrol will be carried out by the two countries in the WPS to address shared regional security challenges in the region. Earlier this month, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez was quoted in media reports as saying that the planned joint patrols by the Philippines and US in the WPS could start in the third quarter of this year. “Yes, I also read that but again we have to wait for the official guidance,” Adaci said when asked about the matter. He said the Department of National Defense (DND) is the one coordinating with the US’ side to iron out the details of the joint patrol, and the Navy is just waiting for orders from the higher command to begin the operation. For now, Adaci stressed that the Navy has been conducting “enhanced” maritime patrols in the WPS along with other government agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard as they increased the frequency of such operations “for us to protect our borders.” “That has always been the policy of our Navy through our operational commands. We do regular patrols. WesCom [Western Command] is the one in charge of the area and it conducts regular patrols in the West Philippine Sea,” he said. He said the Navy still observes the presence of foreign vessels in the WPS during their patrols. “But we give it to our sailors because they continue to perform their mandate, patrolling the area, even if the presence of the other side is there,” Adaci stated.