PCG marks historic return after Philippine vessel takes active role in world’s biggest international maritime exercise
By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Gabriela Silang has returned to Philippine waters after completing a historic deployment to the 2026 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise in Honolulu, Hawaii, marking a major milestone in the country’s participation in multinational maritime operations.
The PCG welcomed the vessel and Task Force 93 during an arrival ceremony in Manila on Tuesday, following their participation in the exercise held from June through the end of July.
For the Philippine Coast Guard, the deployment was more than a ceremonial appearance.
The BRP Gabriela Silang joined RIMPAC as an active participant for the first time, allowing Filipino personnel to train, operate and coordinate alongside maritime forces from other participating countries.
The PCG said the mission was designed not simply to place a Philippine flag at the exercise, but to demonstrate what the Coast Guard could contribute to a major multinational operation.
“We did not go to RIMPAC simply to participate. We went there to learn, to train, to cooperate, to contribute, and to show to the world what the PCG can do,” the agency said.
According to the Coast Guard, the Philippine contingent demonstrated its ability to work effectively with other maritime forces while contributing to activities linked to regional peace, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
The deployment also underscored the PCG’s push to establish itself as a capable maritime partner in the Indo-Pacific.
“More importantly, we showed our partners that the PCG is ready to be reliable and capable maritime partner in the Indo-Pacific Region,” the Coast Guard said.
RIMPAC 2026, hosted by the US Pacific Fleet, carried the theme “Partners: Integrated and Prepared.”
The exercise is described as the world’s largest international maritime military exercise, bringing maritime forces together for multinational training and cooperation.
The Philippine participation also carried a historic distinction.
The PCG announced in February that it would join the 2026 exercise, making it the first foreign coast guard to participate in RIMPAC since its inception.
With the return of the BRP Gabriela Silang, the Philippine Coast Guard has completed a deployment that placed its personnel in a major international maritime exercise and provided an opportunity to strengthen operational cooperation with foreign maritime forces.
The ship is home. But for the PCG, the real gains from RIMPAC are the training, experience and partnerships brought back to the Philippines.
ia/xf
