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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Brawner: Inaugural WPS joint sail between PH, Indian navies a 'success' despite Chinese shadowing

Brawner: Inaugural WPS joint sail between PH, Indian navies a 'success' despite Chinese shadowing

Published Aug 4, 2025 02:25 pm
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr. confirms the success of the inaugural joint patrol between the Philippine Navy and Indian Navy in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Aug. 4, 2025. (Courtesy of MPC pool)
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr. confirms the success of the inaugural joint patrol between the Philippine Navy and Indian Navy in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Aug. 4, 2025. (Courtesy of MPC pool)
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, General Romeo Brawner Jr. hailed as a success the first-ever joint sail between the Philippine Navy (PN) and Indian Navy in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) even as Chinese vessels shadowed the activity.
The first maritime cooperative activity (MCA) between the two countries’ navies was held from Aug. 3 to 4 off Masinloc, Zambales to Cabra Island in Lubang, Occidental Mindoro, areas that are frequently intruded by Chinese ships.
It involved Indian Navy ships INS Delhi (D61), a guided-missile destroyer; INS Shakti (A57), a replenishment oiler; and INS Kiltan (P30), an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvette while the PN deployed guided-missile frigates BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) and BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG06).
“So far maganda ang results. We have met our objectives for the exercise at first time in the history na nagkaroon tayo ng joint sail with the Indian Navy (So far, the results have been good. We have met our objectives for the exercise, and for the first time in history, we had a joint sail with the Indian Navy),” Brawner said on Monday, Aug. 4.
There were "several" reported Chinese vessels that shadowed the joint patrol. The military chief clarified that the foreign vessels did not interfere with the activity.
“Wala tayong naexperience na untoward incidents pero may mga nagshashadow shadow pa rin sa atin (We didn’t experience any untoward incidents, but there were still some vessels that shadowed us). We expected that already,” he noted.
Brawner expressed hope that the joint patrol will open more joint activities between Manila and New Delhi.
“We are hoping na magtuloy-tuloy ito so that marami pa tayong exercises na gagawin with the Indian armed forces (We are hoping this continues so that we can conduct more exercises with the Indian armed forces),” he said.
The joint sail was a result of Brawner’s discussion with Indian Armed Forces chief General Anil Chauhan during the Raisina Dialogue 2025 in New Delhi in March, and the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore in June.
It also took place as President Marcos Jr. departed for India from Aug. 4 to 8 to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Marcos and Modi will hold a strategic dialogue on defense and security cooperation which is expected to produce a “strategic agreement”, according to Brawner.
Snake found at Villamor Air Base ahead of Marcos’ departure
Meanwhile, a snake was found at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City hours before the departure of Marcos for India on Monday.
According to the Philippine Air Force (PAF), a PAF personnel was bit on the hand by the non-venomous snake, but it was immediately secured in a sack and turned over to authorities.
The PAF personnel was brought to the hospital for immediate medical attention.
The snake was spotted a few meters away from the plane that would carry Marcos to India.
“It’s highly possible that it migrated from one area to another. The area is very porous,” PAF chief Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura said. “It’s not a cause for concern and we guarantee that we keep watch.”

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Philippine Navy Indian Navy joint patrol West Philippine Sea Romeo Brawner Jr. AFP
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