- The Philippine Navy and Indonesian Navy are currently conducting joint training exercises as part of Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Philindo 2023 in the waters off Sibu and Negros Oriental.
- The five-day training aims to enhance interoperability, situational awareness, and mutual cooperation between the maritime forces of both countries.
- The exercise is intended to stengthen bilateral relations and to allow personnel to learn from each other's best practices in maritime security and naval operations.
- Participating vessels include the BRP Ramon Alcaraz from the Philippine Navy and two patrol ships from the Indonesian Navy, KRI Sampari and KRI Hugh.
- Capt. Roel Regis, Deputy Commander of Naval Forces Central, welcomed the ships and their crews to Naval Base Rafael Ramos in Lapu-Lapu, Sibu.
- Field training activities involve maritime security operations, surveillance and reconnaissance exercises, maritime interdiction operations, gunnery training, and air operation training.
- Senator Robin Padilla addressed the Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro in the Senate, questioning when he and his colleagues would be called upon to serve as Army Reservists.
- Padilla emphasized the senators' commitment to national interest and the readiness to abandon their senatorial duties to respond to the call of duty as reservists.
- Padilla, holding a rank of Lieutenant Colonel, sought clarification on when senators will be summoned and assured that he would wear his uniform even with his 4-star rank from his time in the PNP (Philippine National Police).
- A foreign minister from a neighboring country accused the Philippines of provocation, leading to a discussion on who is truly instigating issues in the West Philippine Sea.
- DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro clarified that the Philippines is not the provocateur but rather reacts to actions such as harassment of Filipino fishermen and barriers set up at Scarborough Shoal.
- Teodoro emphasized the importance of changing the mindset in the Armed Forces to prepare against provocations, affirming that the territory belongs to the Philippines under international law.
- He mentioned the necessity of principled, open, and transparent dialogue and diplomacy, and the importance of bolstering the Armed Forces to secure the Philippines, particularly with regards to issues in the West Philippine Sea.