PH Navy starts joint maritime exercise with Indonesia

DAVAO CITY, Davao del Sur, Philippines — To improve its capacity for joint naval patrols across their shared borders on the Celebes Sea, the Philippine Navy commenced its first joint maritime exercise with its Indonesian counterpart at the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) base here on Monday.

Eastmincom Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. said the weeklong activity seeks to step up the maritime preparedness of the Philippine Navy and the Indonesian Navy in addressing common security concerns.

“It is imperative for us to keep up with the ever-changing maritime security environment and develop more robust approaches in addressing maritime security [concerns and interests],” Santos said.

The joint maritime training will be participated in by members of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao and the Indonesian Second Fleet Command. Included in the exercise are the Philippines’ BRP Apolinario Mabini and BRP Liberato Picar, and Indonesia’s KRI Layang and KRI Pandarong.