For five days at the end of May, Philippine and American forces mounted a series of coordinated naval, air, and coast guard drills in the waters around Bajo de Masinloc — a strategic shoal at the heart of Manila's ongoing assertions of sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. The joint exercise ran from May 26 to 30, 2026, and concluded with both governments describing it as a demonstration of deepening bilateral defense ties.
What the Exercise Covered and Who Took Part
Designated as the 3rd PH-US Bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) of 2026, the drill brought together a combined force of warships, fighter jets, helicopters, and coast guard vessels from the Philippines and the United States. According to a statement issued by Col. Xerxes A. Trinidad, Chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office, on May 31, 2026, the activity was carried out in coordination with the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM).
The Armed Forces of the Philippines deployed a notable mix of naval and aviation assets for the five-day activity. The AFP Public Affairs Office confirmed that Philippine forces brought the BRP Antonio Luna (FFG-15) — a newly commissioned guided-missile frigate — supported by an FA-50 fighter aircraft, an AW109 helicopter, and a Sokol aircraft.
The Philippine Coast Guard also contributed to the exercise with the deployment of the BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702), a large multi-role response vessel. The inclusion of a coast guard ship alongside AFP naval assets underscored Manila's whole-of-government approach to maritime security in disputed waters.
On the American side, the United States Coast Guard's USCGC Midgett (WMSL-757) — a Legend-class national security cutter — represented USINDOPACOM's surface presence during the exercise. The vessel was accompanied by an MH-65 helicopter, which participated in aerial operations throughout the drill period.
Drills Ranged from Search-and-Rescue to Helicopter Deck Landings
Over the course of the five days, allied forces ran through a structured program of joint maritime activities. According to the AFP statement, Search and Rescue (SAR) operations were among the first exercises conducted, training combined crews to respond to simulated maritime distress situations across multi-vessel environments.
Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) drills formed another core component, giving boarding teams practice in intercepting and inspecting vessels under simulated law enforcement conditions. Maritime Law Enforcement Training was conducted alongside these drills to reinforce the legal frameworks that govern naval and coast guard operations within exclusive economic zones.
Air-surface integration exercises were also central to the program. Rotary Wing Deck Landing Qualifications (DLQ) were carried out to test helicopter pilots' ability to land safely on ship decks under operational conditions. Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) drills — in which helicopters transfer cargo and supplies between ships in motion — were performed to sharpen logistical interoperability between the two nations' forces.
Rounding out the schedule were Communication Exercises (COMMEX), which focused on developing reliable cross-platform communications between Philippine and US units operating simultaneously across air, surface, and naval domains.
Third Joint MCA This Year as PH-US Engagement Accelerates
The completion of this exercise marks the third time in 2026 that the AFP and USINDOPACOM have conducted a Bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity together — a pace that reflects a strengthening operational rhythm between Manila and Washington. The exercises are conducted within the framework of the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), both of which provide the legal and institutional foundation for joint military activities between the two countries.
In his official statement, Col. Trinidad framed the exercise in terms of long-term partnership and shared maritime objectives. "The successful conduct of the recent MCA reflects the enduring commitment of the Philippines and the United States to deepen defense cooperation, strengthen maritime domain awareness, and uphold a rules-based international order," the AFP Public Affairs Office statement read.
Documentation of the activity was handled by the North Luzon Naval Command, which holds operational jurisdiction over the maritime approaches to the northern and western Philippine seaboard — including the contested waters of the West Philippine Sea.
The Strategic Weight of Bajo de Masinloc
The selection of Bajo de Masinloc — also referred to as Panatag Shoal — as the exercise location was far from incidental. The shoal sits roughly 230 kilometers west of Zambales province on the island of Luzon and falls squarely within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone as defined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines in its case against China, affirming Manila's sovereign rights over the area under international law. China, which has not recognized that ruling, continues to assert broad sovereignty over most of the South China Sea based on its nine-dash line claim and has maintained a presence in the vicinity of the shoal.
Staging a joint exercise in these specific waters sends a clear signal regarding freedom of navigation and the Philippines' position on its EEZ rights — a message consistent with the AFP's publicly stated policy on the West Philippine Sea.
PCG Takes on an Expanding Role in Bilateral Defense Activities
The involvement of the Philippine Coast Guard in the MCA is part of a broader trend in which the PCG has steadily expanded its participation in joint exercises alongside AFP units. Manila has increasingly positioned the coast guard as a frontline civilian maritime law enforcement presence in contested waters, complementing AFP naval deployments without relying exclusively on military assets.
The pairing of the BRP Melchora Aquino with the USCGC Midgett — both large-capacity coast guard vessels — allowed Filipino and American coast guard personnel to train together on law enforcement and rescue protocols specifically tailored to civilian maritime jurisdiction, according to the AFP Public Affairs Office.
Rules-Based Order as the Exercise's Stated Framework
Throughout its statement on the activity, the AFP Public Affairs Office anchored the bilateral exercise within the language of a rules-based international order — phrasing that both the Philippines and the United States have consistently used to signal shared opposition to unilateral actions that undermine internationally recognized maritime boundaries.
While Col. Trinidad's statement made no direct reference to specific incidents or confrontations in the West Philippine Sea, it cited "maritime domain awareness" as a primary objective. In operational terms, maritime domain awareness refers to the comprehensive understanding of activities in the maritime environment that may bear on security, economic, or environmental interests — capabilities that drills of this nature are intended to sharpen.
With three MCAs now completed in 2026, the frequency of joint maritime exercises between the AFP and USINDOPACOM points to a sustained allied commitment to operational readiness and a visible presence in the West Philippine Sea. No announcement regarding the next scheduled bilateral maritime activity had been made by the AFP Public Affairs Office as of May 31, 2026.
Photo courtesy of the North Luzon Naval Command / AFP Public Affairs Office.
Originally reported by: BreakingNewsNegOr / Balita (breakingnewsnegor.com)