Philippine Navy Concludes 5-day Exercise Pagsisikap 2021 with Amphibious Operations in Sulu

03 November 2021

Exercise Pagsisikap 2021 (all photos : PN)

Bagong Calarian, Zamboanga City - The Philippine Navy through the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) concluded the 5-day Exercise Pagsisikap 2021 with an Amphibious raid and landing at the White Beach of barangay Bulangsi  in Panamao, Sulu on October 29, 2021. 

According to NFWM PAO, the amphibious operations utilized two (2) Landing Crafts and four (4) Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs)  which were launched from the sea from Landing Dock 601 (LD601) off the shorelines of Panamao, Sulu.  The Landing Crafts and the AAVs carried a battalion of marines from the Marine Amphibious Ready Unit (MARU) who were inserted from the sea to the area to assimilate the retaking of the coastal barangay from enemy forces.  Prior to the insertion ashore of the main body, Navy SEALS were landed earlier to "clear the area and neutralize prepositioned targets" to mitigate the risk against the arriving MARU.

Days prior to the Amphibious Landing, troops from the 2nd Naval Mobile Construction Batallion, Marine Battalion Landing Team 8, Naval Reservists, and civilian volunteers undertook Civil-Military Operations activities in the area through the construction of a flea market which residents can utilize to display and sell their produce and the improvement of three (3) deep wells used by the barangay as sources of fresh water supply.  There was also a medical mission where residents availed of  free medical consultation and minor surgery.  They also received free eye glasses, medicines, household supplies and toys for the children.  Likewise, Naval Information Communications and Technology Station-Zamboanga offered free repair of appliances and film-viewing for the  children.

Officials from the local government units of Sulu who witnessed the various activities in Bulangsi include Congressman Munir M Arbison of the 2nd District of Sulu,  Haji Maryam N Arbison, the Municipal Mayor of Luuk Sulu, and Mr. Al-Frazier Abdurajak, the Mayor of Panamao, Sulu. They expressed their appreciation to the Navy for  initiating worthwhile activities  for the benefit of the residents.  Barangay Bulangsi was once a lair and stronghold of the Abu Sayaff Group (ASG).  During the construction of the flea market and the deep wells, former ASG members volunteered their services and actively participated in these activities.

At the completion of the naval exercise, a Closing Ceremony was conducted at the Headquarters of 4th Marine Brigade and Naval Task Group Sulu at Brgy. Tandu Bato, Luuk, Sulu. The activity was graced by the Commander, Joint Task Force Sulu and 11th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, MGEN William N Gonzales PA, together with the Commander, Naval Forces Western Mindanao, RADM Toribio D Adaci Jr PN.

In his speech, MGen Gonzales shared that "the  conclusion of the unilateral exercise dubbed as Exercise Pagsisikap 2021 enabled us to identify capability gaps that we should address to address current challenges in the operational area while at the same time strategically posturing us to meet future challenges in this joint area of operation."

During the exercise critique and hotwash held aboard LD601 in Zamboanga City on 30 October 2021, RADM Adaci commended all the participants for exerting their efforts to accomplish all the given scenarios and serials of the exercise including the successful firing of the Spike ER missile. He lauded the success of the activity and the accomplishment of its objectives to test wartime and peacetime naval operations doctrines, train sailors and marines to keep them operationally ready, and project the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines particularly the Navy's Fleet-Marine forces to protect and secure the country's archipelagic waters and littoral areas.

(Naval Forces Western)