PH, Japan to hold naval drills off Subic Bay, Corregidor Island

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MANILA — The Philippine Navy and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force will be holding a series of exercises off the waters of Subic Bay, Zambales and Corregidor Island this coming May 12.

This was confirmed by PN public affairs office chief Cmdr. Lued Lincuna Friday.

He added that the PN will use the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) while the JMSDF will use a still unnamed naval vessel.

The two navies will conduct a so-called “Passez” or passing exercises to apply the “code of unplanned encounters at sea” via radio, Lincuna said.

During the exercises, the PN and JMSDF will also perform “deck landing qualification,” or helicopter landing operations aboard ships.

Members of the JMSDF participating in the drills are set to arrive in the Philippines Saturday.

It will be the second time for the PN and JMSDF to hold a Passex, following the one they conducted off Palawan on Sept. 25, 2014, after they participated in the Australia-hosted Kakadu naval exercises.