PHL Navy completes SEAGULL maritime training in Brunei

From the Philippine Information Agency (Nov 30): PHL Navy completes SEAGULL maritime training in Brunei

The Naval Task Group 80.1 of the Philippine Navy, the country’s participants to the recently concluded Maritime Training Activity (MTA) SEAGULL 05/12 between the Philippine Navy and Royal Brunei Navy, arrived at 2lt Lagare Pier, Tide Pole, Parola in Palawan on Tuesday Nov 27. In a statement Acting Public Affairs Officer 2Lt Ann F Abrigo PN(M) shared that MTA SEAGULL is a bilateral naval exercise hosted by Negara Brunei Darussalam and is the fifth in the series of bilateral engagement held every two years. She said it is aimed to foster better and more cordial relationship between the two navies and enhance interoperability.

As the guest of honor, Commander of Western Command LtGen Juancho M Sabban AFP led the ceremony in welcoming home the participants. “From November 19 to 25, nothing was handed to you, except the opportunity to enhance your capability and represent the fighting spirit of the Philippine Navy in the western front,” LtGen Sabban said. The Commander commended the participants for grabbing the chance, which he considered as an achievement in itself. “Now that you are back with the new found knowledge, I am confident that you are all more enthused by your commitment to service for aggressive efforts toward peace and security in the Area of Responsibility (AOR),” he said.

Although WESCOM is making important progress, LtGen Sabban said that efforts need to get further along in creating a platform of lasting success. Through unified endeavors, Palawan and the Kalayaan Islands Group (KIG) will surely embrace a more promising future. “I urged everyone to continuously get dynamically involved in moving the last frontier ahead. This is just a starting point. There is more to do. And together, we can do it best,” he concluded.

NTG 80.1 is composed of two ships, namely BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS37) and BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS38), a team from Naval Special Operations Group and a support/ evaluation group from Fleet-Marine Ready Force led by Commo Alexander S Lopez AFP, with a total compliment of 118 personnel. Activities conducted during the joint training included Communications Exercise, Diving Techniques and Procedures, Combined Practical Boarding, At-Sea Maneuvers, and Gunnery Exercise.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1421354090227