BALANGA CITY, Bataan – President Rodrigo Duterte highligted the welcome ceremony aboard one of the Japanese Escort Flotilla Four of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) comprising of a helicopter carrier, Japanese Ship (JS) Kaga (DDH -184) with five embarked SH-60K patrol helicopters, an Akizuki- class destroyer JS Suzutsuki (DDH-117) and a Murasame- class destroyer JS Inazuma (DDH- 105) berthed at Alava wharf of SBMA for a four-day goodwill visit from Sept 2-5, 2018.
The visiting Japanese delegations about 850 officers and crew headed by Flotilla Commander, Rear Adm. Tatsuya Fukuda and Commanding Officers (CO) Capt. Hide Mizuta (DDH-184), Cdr. Yuki Ochimizu ( DDH- 105) and Cdr. Takeo Kinuyama (DDH- 117), who were warmly welcome by the Phil. Navy delegations headed by Commo. Antonio C. Palces, Commander of Sealift Amphibious Force, who upon arrival had a short port briefing about security and health, aboard one of the japanese ship.
Meanwhile, Pres. Duterte was toured in one of the japanese ship and was brief on the purpose of the visit of Flotilla Four which aim at enhancing the already strong relationship between the Phil. Navy and the JMSDF, as well as fostering committment to the cooperation between the two nations for Regional peace and stability.
The four-day visit will include confidence building activities between the visiting navy and their filipino counterparts on shipboard tour, lectures, reciprocal receptions and sports events
