AGAD na nilinaw ng pamunuan ng Philippine Navy na walang kinalaman sa idinaos na eleksiyon ang pagdaong sa isang puerto sa Filipinas ng dalawang U.S. warship.
Batay sa report, dumaong sa lalawigan ng Palawan ang dalawang U.S. mineswepers, tatlong araw bago idaos ang May 13 midterm elections.
Sa ulat na ibinahagi ng US Pacific fleet, dumaong sa Puerto Princesa ang kanilang Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships na USS Pioneer (MCM 9) at USS Patriot (MCM 7) para sa official port visit at re-supply and routine maintenance purposes noong Mayo 9, 2013.
Sa inilabas na statement, nasa re-supply mission lamang ang dalawang barko at sasamantalahin nila ito para mas higit pang mapalalim ang kanilang kaalaman sa kultura ng mga Filipino.
“Pioneer and Patriot sailors will also have the opportunity to learn about the Filipino culture and engage with the Puerto Princesa community. For many Filipino-American sailors, visiting the Philippines is a chance to reconnect with their heritage.”
“This isn’t just a chance for us to have fun and relax. We have sailors on board who have family in the Philippines and some were even born here,” pahayag pa ni Lt. Cmdr. Robert Wayland, commanding officer ng Pioneer.
“So we are personally invested in this country, and it is more than just a pit stop. For some sailors, it’s a visit home,” pahayag naman ni
Master Chief Petty Officer Andrew Tyler, command master chief ng Pioneer na ipinanganak sa Filipinas.
“Magandang pagkakataon umano ito para balikan ang Filipinas. Maraming lugar sa bansa ang kamangha-mangha ang kagandahan at isa rito ang Palawan,” ani Tyler.
Ang Pioneer at Patriot ay kapwa bahagi ng Commander, Mine Countermeasures Squadron 7 at forward deployed sa Sasebo, Japan. Kapwa sila nasa ilalim ng pangangasiwa ng U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations para matiyak ang regional peace and stability sa bahagi ng Indo Pacific region. VERLIN RUIZ
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