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No formal mechanism yet for PHL, Japan joint patrols
By Priam F. Nepomuceno

SANGLEY POINT, Cavite, March 27 (PNA) -- Don't expect to see Japanese military ships and aircraft helping the Philippine military patrolling the country's vast maritime territories anytime soon.

This is despite the Japan Ministry of Defense's formal delivery on Monday of two Beechcraft King Air TC-90s to the Philippine Navy.

"There is no formal mechanism yet (for such matters)," said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana when asked by reporters on whether Japan is amenable to joint patrol operations with the Philippines.

The Philippine military is hard pressed to protect its vast maritime domains and now catching up with its Asian neighbors in modernizing its Armed Forces.

However, Lorenzana confirmed three more TC-90s are scheduled to be transferred to the Philippines within this year and the next, helping boost the Navy's patrol and disaster response capabilities.

Aside from the said aircraft, talks are underway regarding the transfer of UH-IH spare parts from Japan for the use of the Philippine military, he added. (PNA)