BRP Gregorio Del Pilar bound for Singapore, Brunei

From Update.Ph (Apr 25): BRP Gregorio Del Pilar bound for Singapore, Brunei  

The Philippine Navy (PN) will be deploying BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15) to this year’s ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Maritime Security & Counter-Terrorism (ADMM-PLUS MS & CT) Exercises and the PH-Brunei Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Seagull.

PN spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Marineth Domingo said the send-off ceremony for the Filipino frigate is scheduled for April 27.

The ADMM-PLUS MS & CT will be held in the waters of Brunei and Singapore from May 1 to 12. The 11-day multi-lateral exercises will be focusing on maritime security and counter-terrorism.

Domingo said ADMM-PLUS MS & CT will conduct its first field training exercise which is highlighted by the rising tide of terrorism threatening the Southeast Asian region.

It will represent another significant moment whereby participation and commitment of all 18 countries for practical cooperation which the two major events – the maritime security to be represented by PN, will participate in the sea-storming or surface operations, particularly the visit, board, search and seizure, and the counter-terrorism operations to be represented by Philippine Army will participate in land-storming or ground operations.

Aside from BRP Gregorio Del Pilar, other PN participants include one AW-109E “Power” naval helicopter (PNH-431), a medical team and chaplain, and a naval special operations team.

Eighteen countries will participate in the ADMM-PLUS MS & CT and the 10 regular members are identified as the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The eight non-regular member countries are Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and the United States.

Meanwhile, MTA Seagull will be held from May 10 to 17.

This seven-day bilateral exercise between Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) and the PN aims to enhance the interoperability and building defense capability.

The training includes the conduct of subject matter expertise exchanges, social interaction, shiprider program, and seaphase/field training exercise.

http://www.update.ph/2016/04/brp-gregorio-del-pilar-bound-for-singapore-brunei/4673