By Priam Nepomuceno/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Philippine Navy on Tuesday sent off the BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17) and her 200-man contingent, as it sails to Busan, Republic of Korea and Changi, Singapore to participate in the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting – Plus Maritime Security Field Training Exercise (ADMM-Plus MARSEC FTX) 2019 on April 29 to May 14.
The ceremony took place at Pier 13, Manila South Harbor, Navy spokesperson, Capt. Jonathan Zata, said.
Zata said the ship, which is accompanied by a naval helicopter detachment, is expected to arrive in Busan on April 28.
Philippine Fleet commander, Rear Admiral Giovanni Carlo J. Bacordo, said participation in this international naval event is very important to the Philippine Navy.
“This allows your Navy to uphold its commitment in promoting peace in the region by engaging with other participating Navies, as well as capitalize (on) the opportunity for its officers and sailors to level up on the multi-national dimensional requirement of naval operations,” he added.
ADMM-Plus MARSEC FTX 2019 is the second international defense and security engagement that the Navy will join this year.
Zata said Capt. Roy Vincent T. Trinidad has been designated as Naval Task Group 80.6 commander and will lead the naval contingent to Busan and Changi.
ADMM-Plus consists of ASEAN countries — the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as eight non-ASEAN member states — Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the United States.
Participating navies will participate in this exercise to enhance the interoperability with other navies in a maritime security environment.
This is the second iteration of this exercise. The first took place in May 2016 in Singapore and Brunei, respectively.
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