Manila, June 20 -- Air units of the Philippine Army (PA) conducted a maritime air patrol (MARPAT) over the waters of Central Visayas as part of efforts to boost its maritime domain awareness capabilities in the region.

In a statement Friday, PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said the MARPAT mission on Thursday was conducted by the Special Mission Aviation Company of the Army Aviation Regiment.

"The mission was carried out using a Cessna 172 aircraft, covering areas over Northern Bohol, southern coastline of Maasin City, Surigao Strait, Leyte Gulf and the western waters off Baybay City, Leyte," he said.

Dema-ala noted that the Central Visayas MARPAT mission is part of the regiment's series of regular air patrols over Luzon, the Visaya...