Japan, RP coast guards to conduct sea exercise

The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will conduct a joint maritime exercise on Wednesday to enhance cooperation between the two agencies in combating high-seas piracy, the Japanese Embassy in Manila said yesterday.

Sea maneuvers near the port of Manila will simulate search and rescue (SAR) operations involving crews and the pursuit or seizure of vessels manned by armed groups attacking Japan-related vessels in Philippine waters.

The one-day exercise, involving the patrol vessel Mizuho and two helicopters from the JCG, the SAR vessel EDSA 2 and a helicopter from the PCG, will test the abilities of coast guard personnel to jointly respond to these situations.

The Mizuho will call at the port of Manila tomorrow and stay up to Nov. 2.

Last year, a total 469 acts of piracy were reported worldwide. Two-thirds of these incidents occurred in Southeast Asia, with 119 in Indonesian waters, 75 in the Malacca straits, 55 in Bangladesh, 35 in India and 21 in Malaysia.

The Philippines only reported nine incidents last year, allegedly perpetrated by international piracy syndicates.

As part of the regional cooperation in the area, the JCG also conducted maritime exercises with other countries like Singapore, India and Malaysia.

Japan has begun to play a significant role in the regional cooperation efforts to combat piracy. Early this month, Japan hosted the Asian Cooperation Conference on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Tokyo. Philippine Ambassador Alberto Encomienda headed the Philippine delegation that participated in the conference.