MANILA — The two-ship flotilla of the Philippine Navy (PN), which will participate in this year’s Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercises, safely arrived in Cebu Sunday.
This was disclosed by Navy spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna in a message to the Philippine News Agency Monday.
“PN (ships strategic sealift vessel BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602) and frigate BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17) its attached AgustaWestland AW-109 helicopter had) arrived June 3 in Cebu,” he said.
The Filipino naval contingent along with 700 sailors and marines left Pier 13, Manila South Harbor last June 1.
Lincuna said the PN flotilla is now awaiting the arrival of the Malaysian naval ship, another RIMPAC participant, which is expected this Monday.
The Filipino ships and the Malaysian craft will depart for Hawaii on Wednesday and link up with other navies (Indonesian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Navy) along the way for the ASEAN++ Group Sail to RIMPAC 2018.
Lincuna said this is the first time the PN will be deploying naval and air assets to RIMPAC.
“In the past years we were active and regularly sending participants as observers for the RIMPAC but this time it will be the first that we will be sending our ships( Tarlac-class and Del Pillar-class) and aircraft( AW-109) and around 700 sailors and marines,” he added.
RIMPAC 2018 is scheduled for June 27 to August 2. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
