200 Navy soldiers in SoKor for maritime training

MANILA, Philippines — Some 200 Philippine Navy men have arrived in Busan, South Korea to participate in this year’s ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting – Plus (ADMM-Plus) Maritime Security Field Training Exercise. 

Naval Public Affairs Office chief Capt. Jonathan Zata said the contingent aboard the BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS17) arrived at the Busan Naval Base Pier on Saturday afternoon.

This is the second time that a Philippine Navy vessel went to South Korea. The first was during a historic visit to Jeju Island in October last year.

Zata said the ship, along with the naval contingent led by Captain Roy Vincent Trinidad, commander of Naval Task Group 80.6, was welcomed upon its arrival by the Korean Navy.

The Philippine Navy’s participation in the 2019 ADMM-initiated exercise demonstrates its commitment to work with other ASEAN partner navies in a multilateral environment, Trinidad said. 

He said the deployment of Philippine Navy ships overseas “is part of our major effort in naval diplomacy, and that the contingent is looking forward to another successful mission, following recent sorties in Hawaii, Australia and Russia.”

Capt. Jerry Garrido Jr., the commanding officer of BRP Andres Bonifacio, expressed hope that their participation in the naval exercise with other ASEAN navies “will provide opportunities to enhance our skills and interact with fellow sailors.”