AFP conducts maritime activity with Australia, Canada at West PH Sea

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, Australian Defence Force, and Royal Canadian Navy conduct a maritime cooperative activity near El Nido, Palawan, on Saturday, August 23. —PHOTO: KWADERNO NI PEPE – FF150 VIA AFP

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conducted a maritime cooperative activity with the Australian Defence Force and the Royal Canadian Navy near El Nido, Palawan in the West Philippine Sea on Saturday.

The maritime cooperative activity is conducted under the “Exercise Amphibious and Land Operations” (Alon), which is the largest and most complex iteration of the bilateral defense drill since its launch in 2023.

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According to the AFP, the BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) of the Philippine Navy, HMAS Brisbane (DDG41) of the Royal Australian Navy, and HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH332) of the Royal Canadian Navy served as the participating naval assets in the maritime activity.

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“The engagement reflects a shared resolve to uphold a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific and reinforces the commitment of the Philippines, Australia, and Canada to promote freedom of navigation, regional stability, and collective maritime security,” the AFP noted in a statement on Saturday.

The maritime activity featured a crossdeck hoisting and vertical personnel transfer, wherein the MH-60 helicopter of HMAS Brisbane (DDG41) transferred personnel to BRP Jose Rizal (FF150).

A similar crossdeck hoisting was likewise conducted between HMAS Brisbane (DDG41) and HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH332), while personnel exchange through RHIB was carried out, with HMAS Brisbane (DDG41) and HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH332) transferring personnel to BRP Jose Rizal (FF150). /cb