Philippine President Duterte tours HMAS Adelaide in Manila

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, the Secretary for National Defense Delfin Lorenzana and a delegation of senior government and military officials visited HMAS Adelaide today.

FILE PHOTO: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is greeted by Australia’s Chief of Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin during a visit aboard HMAS Adelaide in Manila. Photo by Leading Seaman Peter Thompson.

Australia has a long history working with neighbouring nations including the Philippines to
maintain regional security and counter terrorism in the Indo-Pacific, including recent cooperation with the Government of the Philippines to counter the threat  of terrorism in that country.

In June, Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion aircraft commenced surveillance flights
over the southern Philippines to collect information that is assisting the Armed Forces of the
Philippines in their fight against Daesh-affiliated terrorism in Marawi.

Chief of Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin was in Manila on 9 and 10 October
and met with the Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana, where they discussed
Australian support to the Philippines’ fight against Daesh-affiliated terrorism in the southern
Philippines.

He also met with his counterpart, General Eduardo Año to discuss practical opportunities for the Australian Defence Force to further its support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

HMA Ships Adelaide and Darwin are in Manila as part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2017, a joint
task group deployment to the region focussed on international engagement.

In addition to the Philippines, Indo-Pacific Endeavour’s visit program includes Brunei, Cambodia,
the Federated States of Micronesia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea,
Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

 

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