THE PHILIPPINE Navy and the Indonesian Navy staged a series of bilateral at-sea maneuvers along the two nations’ maritime boundary to strengthen border security and counter shared maritime threats, according to the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM).
The naval drills, held on May 25, 2026, marked the second day of the Coordinated Border Patrol Philippines-Indonesia (CORPAT PHILINDO-40-2026), according to the NFEM.
Commodore Ireneo D. Battung, commander of NFEM, said the bilateral patrol aims to enhance tactical interoperability and foster closer maritime security cooperation between the two neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
During the joint operations, the Philippine Navy’s offshore patrol vessel BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS37) maneuvered alongside the Indonesian Navy vessel KRI Selar (879) to execute various high-readiness sea serials.
According to Lieutenant Commander Reynante L. Villela, NFEM public affairs officer, the participating naval crews successfully completed coordinated communication exercises, Replenishment at Sea Approaches (RASAP), and semaphore signaling exercises (SEMAPHOREX).
The drills are designed to streamline operational communication and tactical readiness during real-world border security contingencies.
The maritime operations were heavily supported from the air, with a Philippine Air Force C-208B aircraft conducting an Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission over the shared borders to provide real-time situational awareness to the surface vessels.
Military officials emphasized that the CORPAT PHILINDO framework remains a vital mechanism in promoting mutual trust while reinforcing both Manila and Jakarta’s commitment to maintaining peace, stability, and maritime order in their volatile southern waters.
