2 Indonesian warships now at Subic Bay for 4-day goodwill tour

Indonesian warships Bung Tomo-class corvette KRI John Lie (left) and Sigma-class corvette KRI Frans Kaisiepi prepare to dock at the Alava Pier in Subic Bay Freeport. Photo by Joanna Rose Aglibot

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Two Indonesian Navy warships carrying 260 personnel arrived here on Tuesday morning for a four-day goodwill visit.

Bung Tomo-class corvette KRI John Lie (358) and Sigma-class corvette KRI Frans Kaisiepi (368) docked at the Alava Pier about 7 a.m.

Captain Salvador Henry Quinto, acting director of the Philippine Navy’s Public Affairs Office, said the Indonesian navy personnel belongs to the TNI-AL (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angakatan Laut) Port Visit Task Force 2019.

Quinto said the foreign navy delegates are deployed “to establish diplomatic relations and promote Indonesian culture and tourism.”

BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35) of the Philippine Navy received the visiting Indonesian warships that will stay here until Friday.

The goodwill visit would include confidence building activities between Filipino and Indonesian navy personnel, Quinto said.

He said it is the second goodwill visit of the Indonesian Navy to the country this year after its training ship KRI Bima Suci’s visit last August.

Philippine Navy officials welcome the delegates from the Indonesian Navy who are in the country for a goodwill visit until Friday. Photo by Joanna Rose Aglibot