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Newly acquired Philippine Navy ship BRP Gregorio del Pilar sets sail last week from San Francisco for her three week voyage to the Philippines.
MANILA, Philippines >> A senior U.S. official says Congress has approved the transfer of a second Coast Guard ship to the Philippines as Washington deepens its military ties with the Southeast Asian nation that has been engaged in a territorial spat with China.
Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro also promised to consider a Philippine request to have the warship turned over with as much military equipment as possible.
He told reporters Friday that the ship is just one of many defense needs that the U.S. is extending to the Philippines to help its defense treaty ally build up its navy.
He ruled out any intention to re-establish U.S. bases, a sensitive issue in the former American colony.
