Japanese destroyer Setogiri arrives for one-day goodwill visit

May 25, 2018

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessel JS Setogiri, an Asagiri-class destroyer with one helicopter and approximately 200 officers and crew on board, arrived Friday for a one-day goodwill visit, the Philippine Navy said in a statement.

This is the fourth visit of a JMSDF ship in the country this year. The first was JS Amagiri that arrived last February while JS Akizuki and JS Osumi came in April.

The Philippine Navy delegates headed by the representative of the Flag Officer In Command (FOIC) Captain Joselo Tuballa, gave the visiting navy a welcome ceremony upon arrival followed by a port briefing related to health and security aboard JS Setogiri.

Captain Susumi Moriyama, commander of Escort Division Seven and Commander Tokeshi Tonegawa, commanding officer of JS Setogiri will render a courtesy call to Navy chief Vice Adm. Robert Empedrad at the Philippine Navy headquarters.

Like their previous visits, the Japanese navy will engage in a series of confidence building activities with their PN counterparts such as goodwill games followed by a boodle fight. A send-off ceremony will cap off their port visit on May 26. DMS