MANILA – Filipino, American and French naval ships involved in the Balikatan multilateral maritime exercise (MME) sailed from Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Thursday to the drill's areas in the West Philippine Sea.
The participating naval ships for the MME include the offshore patrol vessel BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) and landing dock BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602) for the Philippine Navy; the landing ship dock USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49) for the US Navy and the French Navy's FS Vendemiaire (F-374), a Floreal-class frigate.
In a media interview, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command spokesperson Navy Capt. Ariel Joseph Coloma said the BRP Ramon Alcaraz was the first ship to leave Puerto Princesa City at 9 a.m., followed by the BRP Davao Del Sur and FS Vendemiaire.
The last to leave was the USS Harpers Ferry which left around noon.
Coloma said the four ships are the only participants in the MME which started Thursday.
While at the eastern coast of Palawan, Coloma said the ships will conduct training activities.
"Mag-uumpisa na sila ng kanilang mga (they will start with their) division tactics, officer-of-the-watch maneuvers, (while) they are sailing together at the east coast. Then going up north up to Mindoro Strait then papasok na sila sa (then they will enter the) West Philippine Sea, so tuloy-tuloy rin yung exercise like yung (and they will conduct) photo exercise at saka (and) gunnery exercise, that will be until April 29," he added.
After the activity, Coloma said these ships will "break away" to fulfill their other commitments like the BRP Davao del Sur which is scheduled to join an amphibious assault exercise on April 30.
Meanwhile, BRP Ramon Alcaraz and FS Vendemiaire will be doing a "bilateral sail" from April 30 to May 3, while the USS Harpers Ferry will "proceed independently" on the area or activity where it will operate next.
"Exercise 'Balikatan' in general to include the MME will really help us enhance (our) interoperability with our allied forces specifically with our US counterparts and also, (the) training will also enhanced yung capacity ng tropa natin (out troops' capability)," Coloma said.
New equipment acquired by the Philippines military would be tested aside from practicing and determining on whether military doctrines adopted by the AFP are still applicable.
This year's Balikatan drills, set from April 22 to May 10, involve 16,000 American and Filipino soldiers. (PNA)
