A group of Philippine and US Navy SEALs aboard a rubber boat equipped with machine guns in the rear and front chased a slow-moving boat.
The Navy SEALs, armed with assault rifles, then boarded the boat, dry-fired their weapons and a few minutes later rescued a senator abducted by Abu Sayyaf bandits.
The scene was part of the joint military exercise by the US Navy SEALs and the Naval Special Operations Unit of the Philippine Navy’s Naval Forces Central (Navforcen) yesterday afternoon off Mactan Channel.
Lt. James Reyes, the Public Information Officer of Navforcen, said the exercises were undertaken to enhance the skills of the US and Philippine navies.
Exercises conducted included the Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) or Operation “Flash Piston,” Close Quarters Combat with night and day firing (CQC), Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Boat-handling and Marksmanship.
The exercises started last week and will end next week. Similar exercises will be conducted for Philippine Navy SEALs based in Tawi-Tawi.
Lt. Reyes added the series of exercises also aim to strengthen ties with the US military and develop special maritime operations.
“We learned new skills from them (US Navy) and they also learned from us as this is an exchange of learning through consolidated efforts,” he said.
The training is carried out annually. Fifteen US Navy SEALs and 14 personnel from Naval Special Operations Unit joined in the exercise.