PN mission to Middle East shows improving capabiliity: spokesman

March 6, 2020

The Philippine Navy's (PN) deployment in the Middle East shows improving capability, its spokesman said on Friday.

Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas said the Philippine Navy does not consider its mission in Middle East a failure as overseas Filipino workers chose to stay in the region because of  improving security situation.

"We can't say it is failed mission because the area become peaceful. Let's look at the perspective that your Navy was able to react immediately when our Commander in Chief direct us to proceed to Middle East and we did that in a short period of time," she said.

"We able to transit in the Indian Ocean and Strait of Malacca. We able to go for the 1st time at Sri Lanka and Oman. In the Navy, it is an achievement already," said Roxas.

"Through this mission, the Navy is able to say that we can do it... go on overseas deployment and conduct humanitarian assistance wherever our countrymen need us," she added.

Roxas said the Philippine Navy is waiting for instruction from higher authorities when the BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) will return to the country.

While waiting for orders, Roxas said the Philippine Navy delegates were conducting engagements with its foreign counterpart.

"We take this opportunity while waiting for instruction to be an ambassador of goodwill to this region," she said.

"We promote naval diplomacy and that we extend our services to our kababayans who are currently in the area, to feel home away from home and have this sense of patriotism that our PN vessels represents in this area," she added. Robina Asido/DMS