The United States
and Philippine navies held a joint naval patrol on Saturday in
dangerous southern Philippine waters, amid rising international concern
about Islamist militancy and piracy in the region.
US
Navy littoral combat ship USS Coronado joined a Philippine Navy
frigate, BRP Alcaraz, in patrolling the Sulu Sea where numerous pirate
attacks on commercial shipping have been made since 2015.
"Our
at-sea operations with the Philippine Navy demonstrate our commitment
to the alliance and deter piracy and illegal activities,” US Rear
Admiral Don Gabrielson said in a statement issued by the US embassy in
Manila.
There
are international fears fighters sympathetic to Islamic State will
cross maritime borders between Malaysia and Indonesia to join Muslim
rebels who seized Marawi City in the southern Philippines five weeks
ago.
About 300 militants, 82 security forces and 44 civilians have been killed in the fighting.
The naval patrols were held at the invitation of the Philippine government, the US embassy said.
Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte does not allow joint patrols with the United
States in the disputed South China Sea to avoid damaging its relations
with China, which claims the sea as its own.
But
he welcomes cooperation in the south due to increased militant
activity. Two weeks ago, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines held
joint naval patrols in southern waters.
