A decommissioned World War II-era warship sank unexpectedly off the coast of Zambales on Monday morning, leading to changes in the planned Balikatan 2025 military exercises.
The former Philippine Navy corvette, ex-BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19), went down around 7:20 a.m., about 30 nautical miles west of San Antonio, while being towed into position as a target ship for a live-fire drill. According to a joint statement from the Philippine and U.S. armed forces, no injuries were reported.
The vessel, which weighed 915 tons and had served over eight decades, was chosen for its retirement role after being deemed unfit for further naval service. It was thoroughly cleaned to ensure environmental safety before the operation.
While some parts of the scheduled drill were canceled due to the premature sinking, officials confirmed that the maritime strike component of the command post exercise would proceed as planned. The exercise includes virtual and simulated fire missions involving coordinated ground, air, and naval assets.
Meanwhile, in a separate Balikatan event, the Philippine Marines’ 3rd Marine Brigade carried out an amphibious landing exercise in Balabac, Palawan. The simulation focused on seizing a strategic island and showcased the collaborative strength of U.S., Australian, Japanese, and British forces.
Military leaders highlighted the event as a key display of joint readiness and regional security cooperation.