Ambassador Lhuillier credits the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centers (MRCC Lisboa and Delgada) for the timely reporting of maritime incidents involving Filipino nationals which enables the Embassy to react quickly and to provide the necessary assistance for the Filipino crew and up-to-date information for their families in the Philippines.

Admiral Lopes responded favorably to the proposal of the Ambassador to establish linkage between the Portuguese Navy and the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard through exchange visits and technical cooperation in the fields of search and rescue operations and marine environmental protection. The Ambassador also invited the Admiral to consider the possibility of sending a cadet to study in the Philippine Military Academy.

After their meeting, a briefing presentation on the organization, mission, and functions of the Portuguese Navy was given by the Navy staff. Also present during the briefing was Rear Admiral José Luis Branco Seabra de Melo, Chief of Staff of Admiral Lopes and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Rogelio Villanueva, Jr. who was a former Navy and Coast Guard Officer.

Admiral Melo highlighted the dual character of the Portuguese Navy as having both military and civilian functions. Under its unique organizational setup, the Navy includes the Fleet, Maritime Police, Hydrographic Institute, Maritime Department, and the Naval Academy with the Chief of Naval Staff serving as head of both the Navy and the National Maritime Authority.

The Ambassador was informed that the Portuguese Navy’s frigate NRP Alvares Cabral will be the flagship of the Operation Atalanta of the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) created to combat acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia and escort ships under the UN´s World Food Program and the AMISOM from April to August this year. Ambassador Lhuillier mentioned that the Philippines gives great importance to the issue of piracy off the coast of Somalia due to the frequent cases of Filipino seafarers being held captives by pirates. In support of this, the Philippine Navy has deployed a Liaison Officer to the Combined Task Force based in Manama, Bahrain.