Three Russian vessels, which arrived in the country last year, berthed anew at the Port of Manila for a five-day goodwill visit, which came after last month’s bilateral talks between officials of Russian and the Philippines in Moscow aimed at strengthening security relations.
Philippine Navy director for Public Affairs Capt. Lued Lincuna said the Russian’s Navy Large Anti-Submarine ships Admiral Tributs (564), Admiral Vinogradov (572) and Large Sea Tanker Pechenga anchored at Pier 15 at the South Harbor Thursday.
The Russian Navy contingent led by Captain Oleg Korolev was warmly welcomed by Philippine Navy officials despite the heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm ''Domeng.''
Lincuna said Russia’s Anti-Subamarine Admiral Vinogradov was piloted by Captain Alexey Bolotnikov; Admiral Tributs is skippered by Arten Kolpaschikov while its Large Sea Tanker Pechenga is commanded by Sergey Litvinenko.
Philippine Navy delegates led by Captain Domingo Noel C. Tilos, who represented the Flag Officer In Command, Philippine Navy (FOIC, PN), Vice Adm. Robert A. Empedrad accorded a warm welcome to the visitors upon their arrival with simple rites.
Philippine Navy officials conducted a security briefing aboard Admiral Vinogradov.
This is the first visit of the Russian Navy this year and its sixth since 2012.
Lincuna said the visit is not the first time the three Russian vessels had visited the country. Admiral Tributs visited last year in January, Admiral Vinogradov in October was Pechenga visited the country only last April.
Russian navy officials laid a wreath at the Rizal monument upon arriving and made a courtesy call at the office of Flag-Officer-in-Command led by Vice Admiral Empedrad at the Navy headquarters.
“A series of confidence building activities with their PN counterparts will be conducted such as reciprocal reception, goodwill games followed by a boodle fight and shipboard tour that is also open for civilians. A send-off ceremony with customary Passing Exercise [PASSEX] will cap off their visit,” Lincuna said.
“The visit aims to strengthen the relationship between the two navies. It will further enhance and sustain the promotion of peace, stability, and maritime cooperation of the two countries through naval diplomacy and camaraderie,” he added.
Last month, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon held talks with his Russian counterpart Secretary Nikolay Patruchev of the Security Council of the Russian Federations in Russia to enhance security cooperation between the two countries.
Philippine and Russian security officials also explored cooperation mechanisms on information exchange, capacity-building, training, and other matters that are mutually beneficial to both nations.