MANILA — The Philippine Navy (PN) will welcome next week its first ever contingent to the biennial “Rim of the Pacific” (RIMPAC) naval exercises held in Honolulu, Hawaii from late June to August.
The PN contingent consists of 700 sailors and marines aboard the strategic sealift vessel BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602) and frigate BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17).
In a message Thursday, Navy spokesperson Commander Jonathan Zata said the arrival ceremony for the ships and personnel will take place at Pier 13, Manila South Harbor at 9 a.m. on Monday (Aug. 27), which coincides with the country’s celebration of National Heroes Day.
Zata said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is expected to grace the event as guest of honor and welcome the returning PN personnel.
“The PN will render a fitting arrival ceremony for the returning 700-man contingent aboard BRP Davao Del Sur and BRP Andres Bonifacio from a historic and successful participation in RIMPAC Exercise 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii,” Zata said.
RIMPAC 2018 began on June 27 and ended August 2. Aside from the two ships and personnel, the Navy also deployed an AgustaWestland AW-109 naval helicopter.
The PN naval assets have participated in several RIMPAC exercises, which include helicopter cross-decking, live-fire exercises, special operations training, ground-air integration, and replenishment-at-sea, among others.
Zata said the PN’s participation to RIMPAC 2018 is the Philippines’ commitment in promoting multilateral cooperation and strengthen relationship and cooperation among participating navies of the world. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
