Navy's Alcaraz engages Japan destroyer in drills off Indonesia

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Navy frigate BRP Ramon Alcaraz engaged with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's destroyer JD Hatakaze in waters off Indonesia en route to Australia.

Community newspaper Subic Bay News said in a report Thursday quoting a transmission by the Philippine Navy, that the Alcaraz engaged with the Hatakaze as a part of a passing exercise called PASSEX with tactical maneuvers, visual, communication and publication exercises.

The exercise was meant for the use of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea or CUES as introduced by the Western Pacific Naval Symposium.

Captain Ernesto Baldovino, BRP Ramon Alcaraz commanding officer, said the PASSEX did not only give a chance to test the effectiveness of the CUES but served as an avenue to enhance ability and skills of sailors and promote cooperation and interoperability between the two ships.

The Alcaraz left Subic Bay in Zambales on August 17 to participate in the Royal Australian Navy's multilateral exercise KAKADU 2014 from August 25 to September 12.

The crew of the Alcaraz, Navy helicopter Augusta Westland PNH431, medical team and exercise directorate members make up the 180 Navy personnel participating in KAKADU.

The joint exercises engage 12 countries including China, Pakistan, India, Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea and New Zealand. - Camille Diola