By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
For the first time, the Philippine Fleet (PF) Submarine Group participated in a search-and-rescue drill hosted by the Turkish government.
Dubbed “Exercise INVITEX 2025”, the activity took place in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea near Aksaz Naval Base, Türkiye from April 24 to 30, the PF said in a Facebook post on Sunday night, May 4.
“During the exercise, participating navies engaged in a series of coordinated operations, planning and executing live drills aimed at enhancing interoperability, improving rescue capabilities, and strengthening international cooperation in submarine search and rescue operations,” it added.
Some of the drills include locating and identifying the distressed submarine (DISSUB), search exercise (SEARCHEX), escape exercise (ESCAPEX), submarine parachute assistance group exercise (SPAGEX), rescue exercise (RESCUEX), ventilation exercise (VENTEX), personnel transfer under pressure exercise (PODEX), medical exercise (MEDEX), and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) operations.
The Philippines was represented by PF Submarine Group commander, Capt. Angelito Diaz, and Director of Submarine Operations Center, Lt. Commander Benjamin Magura.
The two officials took part in the hands-on drills and direct observation of critical submarine search and rescue operations, which validated the participants’ theoretical knowledge.
“The Fleet’s first-ever participation in this high-level training for search and rescue teams and planners, based on a generic scenario and supported by various submarine search and rescue assets, was made possible by its recent membership with the International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO),” the PF said.
It also said that the real submarine search and rescue experience during the “INVITEX KURTARAN 2025” has provided a valuable reference for the PF in developing the Philippine Navy’s submarine search and rescue manual, which is vital in advancing its submarine capability. (PNA)
