PHL Navy contingent sails to Hawaii for world’s largest maritime exercise

A Philippine Navy contingent on Wednesday left for Hawaii to join the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise.

Naval Public Affairs Office director Captain Lued Lincuna said that this will be the first time that a Philippine Navy contingent will be participating in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2018, which is a multilateral naval exercise that "covers the entire spectrum of naval operations ranging from disaster response and maritime security operations to sea control and complex war-fighting."

The gathering and showcasing of the best naval assets and personnel is scheduled from June 27 to August 2, in and around the Hawaiian Islands.

Lincuna said that this will be an opportunity for the navy "to build and enhance relationship with other navies participating in the exercise through cultural exchanges, sports and similar activities and also engaging the sizeable Filipino community in Hawaii."

The send-off ceremony for the 700-man Naval Task Force composed of a naval special operations group team and one Marine company was held in Malacañang sa Sugbo in Cebu City. Two Navy vessels including the BRP Davao del Sur (LD602) and BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF17) with an embarked AW 109 naval helicopter were also part of the participating naval task force.

The Naval Task Force RIMPAC will be spearheaded by Captain Ernesto Baldovino while Fleet Marine Ready Force commander Commodore Toribio Adaci Jr. will lead the contingent as its head of mission. — BM, GMA News