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THE joint naval exercise between the Philippines and Malaysia kicked
off Monday, which is aimed at improving further the cooperation of
the two countries in regional security.
It was Philippine Navy Fleet Commander Rear
Admiral Petronilo Magno who opened the joint exercises, dubbed as
“MALPHI-LAUT,” which is hosted by the Royal Malaysian Navy. It
involves exercises like live fire and naval interoperability between
the two countries’ navy.
The 10-day joint exercise is aimed at bolstering
bilateral efforts to fight crime that takes place across national
borders such as drug trafficking, hijacking, illegal migration,
piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing, the theft of marine resources
and the polluting of oceans.
Magno said the 11th Philippines-Malaysia Joint
Naval Exercises would involve at least 300 Filipino and Malaysian
troops, several naval crafts and two reconnaissance aircrafts.
Participating Philippine ships are the BRP (Barko
ng Republika ng Pilipinas) Artemio Ricarte, BRP Nicolas Mahusay and
BRP Bonny Serrano. Malaysia is fielding four of its warships for the
naval exercise.
The exercise is scheduled to take place in the
waters of Sabah and will end in Labuan, Malaysia on April 17.
“Malaysia has been the Philippine Navy’s
strong partner in the development of national security, since we
share common borders where transnational crimes are becoming modern
trends among terrorist groups and pirates”, Magno said.
Malaysian Navy Fleet Commander Vice Admiral
Kurish said “the outcome of the exercise had a significant
development compared to previous exercises. This year’s edition,
which Malaysia hosts will take a longer course since more serials
will be conducted that will enable sailors from both navies to
immerse with each other’s systems and culture”.
-- Jefferson Antiporda
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