Navy contingent sails to Singapore

MANILA, Philippines — The 200-man Philippine Navy contingent participating in the maritime security and counterterrorism exercises with the navies of 17 other countries are now sailing for Singapore after finishing the first phase of the international event in Busan, South Korea. 

Philippine Navy contingent commander Captain Roy Vincent Trinidad said the second part of this year’s ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) combined maritime exercise will continue in Singapore. 

While in Korea, the Philippine Navy sailors and soldiers participated in a series of confidence building activities that included sports activities, welcome reception, ship tour and subject matter expert exchanges. 

Trinidad said the maritime security exercise aims to enhance the ADMM-Plus nations on its multinational response capability to international maritime crime as well as establish a collaborative system while promoting camaraderie and cooperation among navies.

BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS17) together with participating navies from Brunei, China, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Republic of Korea, a number of embarked aircrafts and the US P-8A Poseidon comprised the first part of the ADMM-PLUS combined exercise. 

“The Philippine Navy once again achieved its objective by participating in this maritime exercise. We are really looking to step up in this multinational arena and know that we can be at par with our counterparts,” Trinidad said.

During the at-sea phase of the event in South Korea, the group conducted voice radio drills followed by an international response training scenario aimed to protect merchant ships and key maritime facilities.  

Trinidad said participating navies are on its sail down to Singapore where other ADMM-Plus countries, such as Australia, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam, are expected to join in the exercise that will be hosted by the Singaporean Navy. 

The Philippine Navy said its participation in this exercise manifests its commitment to promoting multilateral cooperation for peace and stability among ASEAN and other regional navies.