3 Russian Navy vessels to make 5-day goodwill visit in Philippines

The Russian guided-missile cruiser Varyag on a port visit in Manila in April 2017. INQUIRER photo / GRIG MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — A Russian navy contingent will arrive in Manila on Sunday morning for a five-day goodwill visit to the Philippines.

Anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleyev (DDG-548), guided-missile cruiser Varyag and sea tanker Boris Botuma will dock at South Harbor from Jan. 6 to 11, the Philippine Navy said in an advisory.

All the three visiting vessels have visited Manila in previous port calls in 2017 and 2018.

A port briefing will be conducted after a welcome ceremony for the vessels. Other exchanges were not detailed.

This will be the first visit of Russian Navy in Manila in 2019 after visiting twice last year.  The visit is expected to highlight the growing defense ties of the two countries, one of the results of President Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called independent foreign policy.

The Philippine Navy made its first ever port call in Russia in 2018. /jpv