Quezon City: The Philippine Navy (PN) on Tuesday announced that three major naval vessels from the Philippine Fleet (PF) took part in the first-ever simultaneous unilateral and gunnery exercises held in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Monday.

According to Philippines News Agency, PN spokesperson Captain John Percie Alcos, during a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, stated that the 1st PF Unilateral Exercises 2025 showcased an exceptional display of coordination, precision, and strategic agility. He highlighted the participation of the Navy's missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), offshore patrol vessel BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16), and landing dock BRP Tarlac (LD-601) in the series of maneuvering and radio communication drills.

Alcos detailed that the FF-150 and PS-16 conducted live fire drills southeast of Bajo de Masinloc, in the waters of the WPS, which proceeded smoothly despite turbulent seas. This, he noted, demonstrated the Fleet's unwavering commitment to maintaining top-tier readiness in any environment. The exercises contributed to sharpening the skills and effectiveness of the participating naval assets in warfighting, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response, while also enhancing the fleet's overall operational performance.

In an interview, Alcos shared that the BRP Jose Rizal fired its Oto Melara Super Rapid 76mm main gun, while the BRP Ramon Alcaraz utilized its .50 caliber secondary weapons during the live-fire exercise, which simulated targeting surface vessels. He expressed satisfaction with the results, noting that both the PS-16 and FF-150 successfully hit the target despite challenging conditions.

For security reasons, Alcos declined to disclose the exact distance of the two ships from Bajo de Masinloc during the firing exercise. He assured that no Chinese ships or assets were observed in the area during the exercise.