Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino Dela Cruz, commanding general of the Philippine Air Force, visited JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, last week to discuss bilateral, regional, and global issues with Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Hawk Carlisle. During his Oct. 16 visit, Carlisle and he spoke about the potential for future engagements between the two air arms to promote regional security and stability, according to PACAF’s release. Dela Cruz toured PACAF headquarters, along with the 613th Air and Space Operations Center, 19th Fighter Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard’s 199th Fighter Squadron, and the Hawaii Region Air Operations Center at Wheeler Army Air Field, states the release. This was Dela Cruz’s first visit to Hickam, coming after Carlisle visited the Philippines in January.
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.