Philippines, US hold joint military drills to boost interoperability

File photo shows a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force, takes off from Marine Barracks Gregorio Lim during the KAMANDAG 2 joint exercises in Ternate, Cavite on Oct. 7, 2018./ DVIDSHUB

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and United States recently kicked off joint military exercises focused on counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

The Marine Aviation Support Activity (MASA) 19.2, a semiannual Philippines-US exercise, got going at Basa Air Base on Monday and will run until July 25, said Philippine Marines spokesperson Capt. Felix Serapio.

Members of the Philippine Marines and Philippine Air Force will take part in the exercises to be held at the Marine Base Gregorio Lim in Ternate, Cavite.

US Marines and aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 and 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, meanwhile, are representing the US side, the US embassy said in a separate statement.

The exercise is in line with the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement.

There are 280 bilateral activities lined up between the Philippines and US for 2019, the biggest number among allies and partners within the jurisdiction of the US Indo-Pacific Command.  / gsg