Navy delegation off to Indonesia for Komodo 2018

The Philippine Navy has sent over 300 officers to Indonesia to take part in the Komodo 2018, said to be the "biggest multilateral naval exercise" in the world.

Sent off on Friday, April 27, the officers traveled in the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, one of the crafts acquired from the US Coast Guard under the military's modernization program.

"This (exercise) is the first international defense and security engagement to be participated by the PN this year," Navy spokesperson Captain Lued Lincuna said.

The Komodo exercise is held once every two years, and participated in by the navies of over 30 countries including China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Hosted by Indonesia, this year's exercise will be held at the Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia from May 4, Friday to May 9, Wednesday.

According to its official website, the event will include 12 workshops for all participants estimated to reach 4,000.

"It aims to enhance the relationship and cooperation among participating navies in building common understanding about humanitarian assistance, disaster response operations, and will also focus on the Maritime Interdiction," Lincuna said.

"This multilateral naval exercise is a platform on how the PN and other navies in the region can cooperate and work together to address shared maritime security priorities through the development of combined naval tactics, techniques and procedures," he said. —Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/ALG, GMA News