Maritime Inter-Agency Exercise

DESPITE the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Manay, Davao Oriental, and was strongly felt in Davao City, the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) successfully concluded the high-stakes Maritime Inter-Agency Exercise (MIAEX) 2025-02 in Eastern Mindanao waters on Friday, Oct. 10.

 The drill was designed to sharpen the collective response of 16 agencies against both internal and external threats.

In the morning, the writer of this story, onboard a Philippine Air Force Black Hawk helicopter operating under EastMinCom, conducted an aerial security patrol over Davao waters, marking the start of the Joint Maritime Inter-Agency Exercise 2025-02.

During the first sortie, which lasted approximately 30 minutes, the Black Hawk conducted an aerial security patrol over the waters of Davao, the Island Garden City of Samal, and Talicud Island.

In the second sortie, the Black Hawk helicopter performed a close air support role for the ground troops conducting a maritime operation.

 It also provided surveillance during a scenario involving putting out a fire on a boat, where the Philippine Coast Guard’s water cannon and various Navy assets provided an additional layer of security.

The exercise, hosted by the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) and involving 16 distinct units, was designed with the core objective of enhancing synergy and testing interoperability across a wide spectrum of maritime security operations.

The scenarios simulated intense, real-world challenges, culminating in a series of coordinated, rapid-fire drills in the late morning.

Key scenarios and high-risk drills

The maneuvers, which began with a 5:30 a.m. departure, focused heavily on combat-readiness and law enforcement at sea:

Fire at-Sea Response: The exercise kicked off its main phase at 9 a.m. with a simulated fire-at-sea, demanding a rapid, coordinated response involving vessels and firefighting teams from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Maritime Interdiction and HRVBSS: This was immediately followed by a crucial Maritime Interdiction drill, leading into a High-Risk Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (HRVBSS) operation.

This specialized task was led by the elite Naval Special Operations Unit 7 (NAVSOU7), demonstrating the deployment of Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) teams to neutralize threats aboard a vessel.

Coastal Defense: Running concurrently was a Coastal Defense/Sector Defense drill, with elements like the Ground Unit of Task Force (TF) Davao acting as a quick reaction force to secure coastal areas.

Coalition of 16 units

The scope of the exercise showcased a whole-of-government approach to maritime security, integrating military, police, enforcement, and civilian response capabilities.

Major naval and air assets deployed:

Philippine Navy (NFEM & TOW-EM): Key vessels included the patrol corvette BRP Artemis Ricarte (PS37) and the tank landing ship BRP Teotimo (LC298), alongside Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (MPACs) and the coastal patrol craft BRP Alberto Navarette (PC 394). Air support featured Fixed Wing aircraft (N762, C-208B) and a helicopter (BLADE HAWA).

Special Operations: The NAVSOU7 contributed its highly specialized SEAL Team and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team, ready to address sophisticated threats like improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Law Enforcement and Support: Crucial participation came from the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police (PNP) with their Maritime Group, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).

Other key support units included AFP Reservists for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR), a combined medical team, and the Eastern Mindanao Command, which provided a C2 (Command and Control) element to manage the large-scale integrated operation.

The successful completion of the exercise underscores the Eastern Mindanao Command and other security forces’ commitment to continuously strengthening their naval and inter-agency capabilities to safeguard their vast maritime domain in Eastern Mindanao.

Meanwhile, EastMinCom has placed all its disaster response units on alert following the powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck off the coast of Manay, Davao Oriental, at around 9:43 a.m. Friday.

EastMinCom spokesperson Lt Col Salvacion Evangelista said that the PAF Black Hawk that was used during the exercise earlier took off on Friday afternoon to Davao Oriental, on board the director of the Office of Civil Defense XI from TowEM headquarters in Sasa for the conduct 

of Rapid damage and needs assessment.

Photos courtesy of Rhoda Grace B Saron