U.S., Philippines hold naval patrol to deter Islamist militants

The United States and Philippine navies held a joint naval patrol on Saturday in dangerous southern Philippine waters, amid rising international concern about Islamist militancy and piracy in the region.US Navy littoral combat ship USS Coronado joined a Philippine Navy frigate, BRP Alcaraz, in patrolling the Sulu Sea where numerous pirate attacks on commercial shipping have been made since 2015.“Our at-sea operations with the Philippine Navy demonstrate our commitment to the alliance and d