Aboard the Russian Navy vessel Admiral Tributs during open house in Manila Jan. 2, 2016. Inquirer/L. Rillon
The five-day visit of Russian vessels—anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs and sea tanker Boris Butoma—will culminate in a passing exercise with the Philippine Navy in Manila Bay on Saturday.
“These maneuvers will take place on January 7 when we start our route from the point of Manila. There will be exercises and manuevering in the territorial waters of the Philippines,” Rear Admiral Eduard Mikhailov, deputy commander of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, told reporters in a press conference aboard Admiral Tributs late afternoon Wednesday.
Philippine Navy public affairs officer Commander Lued Lincuna said that the activity is part of the send-off ceremony and naval customs and tradition.
The Russian vessels will hold a passing exercise with BRP Rajah Humabon.
Russia’s ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev said the exercise is “a specific example of our joint drills.”
He added that it was important because the two navies use different equipment and have different technical standards.
“So it’s very important to establish communication lines with our navies because without these it won’t be possible to cooperate to solve [a] common problem,” the ambassador said.
Khovaev said they are open to possible naval exercises with the Philippines that will focus to fight terrorism, piracy and illegal drug trafficking. RAM
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