Philippine Navy participates in Indonesia's Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo

Philippine Navy multilateral capability to be boosted by 'Komodo' drills

File photo of PF-15 BRP Gregorio Del Pilar

The Philippine Navy’s (PN) ability to operate at the multilateral level is expected to be boosted by its participation in the Indonesian Navy's "Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo" that will take place on May 4-9.

"The PN’s participation in this undertaking is expected to advance its maritime operational capability to multilateral level, thereby increasing readiness and interoperability and enabling the nation’s premiere maritime force to be more effective and efficient in the conduct of its mandated task," Navy spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna said Friday.

The PN deployed the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (FF-15), one of the three ex-Hamilton class cutters in service, and about 300 naval personnel to participate in the "Komodo".

The same vessel participated in the "Komodo" naval drills back in 2014. It departed Pier 13, Manila South Harbor Friday morning and is expected to arrive at the Port of Lembar, Indonesia by May 4.

Exercise "Komodo" 2018 is the third multilateral naval exercise that will be hosted by the Indonesian Navy.

It aims to enhance the relationship and cooperation among participating navies in building common understanding about humanitarian assistance disaster response operations and will also focus on maritime interdiction operation.

Lincuna said an estimated 30 regional and non-regional navies from different countries will join this naval exercise.

It will be executed ashore, as sea and air assets, and special operations teams from participating navies will conduct combined maneuvers to address various contingencies at sea.

Exercises ashore include workshops, sports program, cultural performances, maritime exhibitions, engineering civic action projects, and medical and civic action projects.

The final day will see a field training exercise and a sail pass.Lincuna said this multilateral naval exercise is a platform on how the PN and other navies in the region can cooperate and work together to address shared maritime security priorities through the development of combined naval tactics, techniques and procedures.


Article source: Philippine News Agency

Philippine Navy to add more vessels in Eastern Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, May 10 (PIA) -- The Philippine Navy is planning to deploy two more naval assets at the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM).

Captain Robert Empedrad, NFEM deputy commander said yesterday during the Club 888 media forum at Marco Polo Davao, that among the planned additional vessels includes a large patrol ship and a patrol craft.

NFEM’s area of jurisdiction covers the Eastern Mindanao area from the waters off Polloc in Maguindanao, Davao, Surigao, and up to Camiguin.

It has nine naval assets, the largest of which is the patrol ship BRP Magat Salamat (PS-20) while others are smaller but faster patrol crafts. The Magat Salamat is notable for being headed by Commander Luzviminda Camacho the first lady commanding officer of the Philippine Navy.

Empedrad said that the assets are sufficient enough to patrol the coasts of eastern Mindanao; most of the maritime problems involve piracy, poaching, illegal fishing, and human smuggling. For a year now, there has been no piracy incident reported.

Currently, they are planning to strengthen naval presence in Surigao with plans of putting up a naval detachment in Taganito, Surigao del Norte where New People’s Army guerrillas attacked several mining firms late last year.

Empedrad said that unlike areas in the West Philippine Sea where the country is embroiled in a dispute with China there are currently no border disputes between Indonesia who shares a common maritime border within the jurisdiction of NFEM.

He says that the Philippine Navy has built a good relationship with the Indonesian Navy and is conducting annual border patrol exercises under the Border Patrol Agreement signed by the two countries 36 years ago.

The first of the annual border patrol exercises was conducted last April 28 to May 3 participated by about 100 Philippine Navy personnel and the patrol ship Magat Salamat joined by the Indonesian patrol vessel KRI Sura along with 47 Indonesian Navy sailors and officers.

Aside from exercises with the Indonesian Navy, the NFEM will also be hosting the United States Navy-Philippine Navy “Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training” (CARAT) Exercise 2012 this coming June 28- July 9 in Glan, Sarangani Province. 

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Rudolf Ian G. Alama | Philippine Information Agency | May 10, 2012 | Article Link

147 troops join Philippine-Indonesia naval exercises

MORE than 140 soldiers participated in the Corpat Philindo, a joint exercises of the Philippines-Indonesia naval forces in Balut Island, Sarangani province.

Some 100 troops from Philippine Navy's Eastern Mindanao Command and 47 troops from Indonesia participated in the joint exercises last April 23-May 2.

Captain Robert Empedrad, deputy commander for fleet operations and commander naval task force seahawk of Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao, said the objective for holding such an exercise is to conduct a joint patrol between the territorial waters of countries Philippines and Indonesia.

He said the holding of joint military patrol will lessen the incidents of maritime crimes, including piracy, poaching, human smuggling and illegal fishing.

"We have enough ships here to patrol over our area of operation," he said.

He added they will stage another Corpat Philindo in September 2012.

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Antonio L. Colina IV | SunStar.Com.Ph | May 9, 2012 | Article Link