Bandar Seri Begawan - The Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Hj Abdul Halim bin Hj Mohd Hanifah received a call from the Commander of the Philippine Fleet, Rear Admiral Orwen J Cortez yesterday morning.

Present during the call was the Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines, Nestor Z Ochoa, Commander Leofilo G Pulmano (DCTG 12.1), and both Philippine Patrol Ships' Commanding Officers.

Upon completion ofthe call, the Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy presided over the opening ceremony with the Commander of the Philippine Fleet in attendance.

The Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) and the Philippine Navy will be conducting a combined naval exercise codenamed 'Maritime Training Activity ovum SEAGULL 05/12' from November 19 to 25. This is the fifth in the series of bilateral engagements between both navies, which is held bi-annually. The Royal Brunei Navy will be host to this year's event and all military activities will be conducted in the Sultanate.

This training activity aims to strengthen and enhance the bilateral security relationship, cooperation and interoperability between the two navies. At the same time, it seeks to promote mutual understanding and to bolster the existing long-standing relationship among the officers and men of both navies.

This year, two ships from the Royal Brunei Navy, KDB Syafaat and KDB Afiat, will be joined by two patrol ships from the Philippine Navy namely BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37) and BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS-38). The exercise will involve almost 150 personnel from both navies.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin