THE Philippine Navy (PN) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) have concluded the conduct of the four-day joint exercises in the Sulu Sea amid the threat of cross-border terrorism.
Rear Admiral Rene Medina, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) commander, said the joint exercise was designed to strengthen the defense relationship of both navies when it comes to the establishment of communications with each other while conducting joint maritime patrols in the region.
Medina said the exercises known as the Passing Exercise (Passex), Communications and Electronic Exercise (Commelex) and joint maritime patrol were held from September 22 to 25.
Medina said frigate BRP-Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16), which is currently under the operations control of NFWM, joined the four-day exercises with Her Majesty Australian Ship (HMAS) Parramatta of the RAN.
Medina said the joint exercise between the PN and RAN is embodied in the Code of Unplanned Encounters at Sea (Cues).
He said the Cues is an agreement signed by 21 countries including the Philippines and Australia that limits the occurrence of incidents at sea and prevents the escalation of tensions between navies in agreement.
