Teresa Magbanua sails to Kagoshima for trilateral exercise

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship BRP Teresa Magbanua left for Kagoshima, Japan yesterday to participate in the trilateral maritime exercise with the coast guards of Japan and the United States.

- Jose Rodel Clapano, Michael Punongbayan

PCG chief Admiral Ronny Gil Gavan said that the exercise will equip Coast Guard members with more knowledge amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

"The departure of the Teresa Magbanua is the realization of the amendment to the memorandum of agreement that we have with Japan that was signed in December 2023, during the state visit of President Marcos, allowing the Philippine Coast Guard and Japan Coast Guard to invite like-minded countries to train with us," Gavan told the media after the send-off ceremony in Manila.

At the same time, Gavan belittled the possibility that China would respond because of the maritime exercise with the US and Japan, which he said symbolizes the partnership and cooperation among allies in the region.

"We are not really very concerned. We are just doing what we should do. We are concerned about doing the right thing because for as long as we do the right thing, we cannot be wrong," he noted.

The BRP Teresa Magbanua is the flagship vessel of the PCG.

"How can a search and rescue exercise create instability among nations? How can training on how to enforce the laws create stress among nations? We have to recall that laws are actually a product of compromise among different conflicting interests, so for as long as you adhere to the laws, you are actually pursuing stability and peace," Gavan said.

He said it is important to train not only with allies but with fellow Coast Guard who are basically the protectors of rule and laws.