PCG, Japan Coast Guard join forces to combat maritime security threats

Philippine Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard vessels in an anti-piracy exercise, October 18, 2026. Handout/PCGMANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard underscored their commitment to combating security-related threats in an anti-piracy exercise on Sunday. 

PCG vessels Melchora Aquino and BRP Cape San Agustin, alongside the JCG vessel Shikishima, conducted the exercise in coordination with the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) to strengthen the response against maritime-related threats.

“Pag piracy kasi, it happens on the high seas. Ibig sabihin hindi siya sa jurisdiction ng territory natin. Kaya, hindi siya crime against the whole nation. Kaya, kahit saan ka pwede kang hulihin, kahit anong bansa, pwedeng humuli sayo kaya piracy,” said Rear Admiral Christopher Meniado, PCG Commander, Coast Guard District National Capital Region – Central Luzon.

The exercise promotes a rules-based approach to managing  critical maritime security situations.

Information gathered through diplomatic discourse has long been useful in managing these situations.

Commodore Algier Ricafrente, acting deputy chief of staff for international affairs of the PCG, previously said that the exercise will focus on boarding and searching vessels suspected of criminal activities, as well as improving the two coast guards’ capabilities in addressing piracy at sea.

He added that the activity will also allow the two agencies to exchange best practices in maritime law enforcement.