The US Vessel off Philippine Coast: Confusion Adds to Mystery

The Manila Times
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Manila (Philippines):
The Department of Foreign Affairs maintains that it was the USS Joint Venture that was seen off Zamboanga City on Tuesday and not the High-Speed Vessel Swift as claimed by military official.
Gilberto Asuque, a foreign affairs spokesman, said Thursday he contacted the Department of National Defense and made the clarification after he read The Manila Times report that Armed Forces spokesman, Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual, identified the vessel as the Swift.
He said there could have been a mix-up in information because Pascual is already on his way out as Armed Forces spokesman.
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Asuque said US Army Lt. Col. Jacquelin Lyons, public affairs officer of the US Pacific Command, had also informed the defense department and the AFP of the ship’s identity.
Asuque and the US Embassy said on Wednesday that what was photographed by The Times off Zamboanga is the Joint Venture, a US-flagged commercial ship chartered by the US military to ferry cargo.
The embassy said there was nothing irregular about the presence of the Joint Venture in Philippine seas. “US vessels routinely transit through international waters near the Philippines, participate in bilateral exercises and stop at ports for friendly visits, rest and supply,” the embassy said in a statement.
The Joint Venture had visited Manila in July.
Oct 14, 2005