WWII warship assigned as target vessel sinks ahead of Balikatan exercise

Portions of the Balikatan Exercise 2025 were cancelled on Monday after the target vessel, a decommissioned warship, sank before the scheduled drills in Zambales.

In a joint statement, the Philippines and the United States armed forces said the ex-BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19) sank around 7:20 a.m. after it took on water while being positioned around 30 nautical miles west of the town of San Antonio.

“No personnel were injured,” the statement said.

Before towing the 915-ton corvette to the operational area, the military said the ship underwent environmental cleaning and preparation for the maritime strike.

They noted the 81-year old vessel was selected because it has exceeded its service life and was no longer suitable for normal operations.

According to the organizers, the maritime strike remains unchanged as part of this year’s Balikatan command post exercise in which the US and Filipino troops will rehearse virtual and constructive fire missions.

“The training will integrate ground, maritime, and air-based sensors and shooters into a combined, joint fires network, as the Philippine and U.S. joint task forces exercise command and control while increasing combined warfighting capability,” officials said.

“Elements of the scheduled MARSTRIKE live-fire event will occur and the combined force will still achieve its training objectives,” they added.

Authorities reminded that the Notice to Mariners and Notice to Airmen surrounding the venue of the activity is still in effect. 

Meanwhile, the 3rd Marine Brigade (3MBDE) of the Philippine Marines staged a large-scale amphibious landing exercise in Balabac, Palawan on Sunday as part of the ongoing Balikatan.

“The training simulated the retaking of a strategic island, focusing on joint forcible entry operations, beachhead establishment, and inland objective securing. It formed part of the Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations (MKTSO),” according to the military.

Observing the exercise were members of the US military and the Australian Defence Force, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the Royal Marines from the United Kingdom.

The activity exhibited the growing interoperability and cohesion among partner nations in maintaining regional security, according to the military. —RF, GMA Integrated News