MANILA, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Navy and Air Force have began a pilot maritime exercise to improve interoperability in monitoring internal security and territorial defense in western Mindanao, a military statement said on Thursday.
Rear Admiral Rene Medina, commander of the military's Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said the drill, dubbed Exercise Ayudahan 2017 which opened last Monday, is aimed at developing the soldiers' capability to conduct maritime patrols, surveillance and search and rescue operations in the Western Mindanao region.
"The interoperability exercise aims to develop interoperability and operational capabilities of the units in Western Mindanao area of operations and enhance the overall coordination and responsiveness in the conduct of joint maritime operations in support to internal security operations and territorial defense operations," Medina said.
"The continuous collaboration of the two forces is an evidence of a strong commitment to serving and performing their respective duties for the pursuit of lasting peace, order and development in the Western Mindanao."
Medina said the drill, which will run until Oct. 16, will include a series of classroom instructions, lectures, and discussions on the formulation and execution of joint operation plans and expertise exchanges and field training exercises.
Security threats in the Western Mindanao region include the Abu Sayyaf extremists, communist insurgents and pirates that operate in the maritime borders of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.
