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GOODWILL VISIT

Japanese military ship to dock in Subic on Saturday


A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessel will dock in Alava Wharf in Subic, Olongapo City on Saturday for a goodwill visit, the Philippine Navy said on Thursday.

According to Navy spokesperson Commander Jonathan Zata, the port visit of the JMSDF Escort Division 4 will be part of the normal port calls aimed to engage personnel to naval exercises.

"Normally 'yung mga port visit na 'yan, it's either they come from a deployment o they would be going to a deployment and part of that routine is visiting the countries..." Zata told reporters.

"Bago sila pumunta or pagkagaling nila sa kanilang routine deployment ay ma-engage nila 'yung allied navies din or navies along the way," he added.

The JMSDF's Escort Flotilla Four is comprised of helicopter carrier Japanese Ship (JS) Kaga (DDH-184) with five SH-6OK patrol helicopters, an Azuki-class destroyer JS Suzutsuki (DD-117), a Murasame-class destroyer JS Inazuma (DD-105), and more or less 850 officers and crew.

Zata said out that the port visit of Japanese ship would reinforce good relations with the JMSDF Escort Division 4.

"As you may recall the JMSDF provided us with aircraft, TC-90 na now we are refurbishing and a couple has already been repainted and refurbished and are being used for our maritime air surveillance," Zata said.

"So kasama nito 'yung engagement with our naval air group pilots so that kung ano pa 'yung mga skills and other procedures that both navies can learn from one another para at least pag nagusap sila ay maayos naman," he added.

Zata said President Rodrigo Duterte was scheduled to tour the ship in the afternoon of its arrival day. —Anna Felicia Bajo/NB, GMA News

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