PH-US military drill kicks off in Subic Bay
Philippine Marine Corps officials lead the opening ceremony of the third edition of “Kamandag” or “Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat (Cooperation of Warriors of the Sea)” at the Subic Bay International Airport on Wednesday. Photo by Joanna Rose Aglibot
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — A 10-day joint military training involving more than 1,500 Filipino and American troops officially began here on Wednesday.
The military drill was dubbed “Kamandag” or “Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat (Cooperation of Warriors of the Sea)is on its third edition.
The training is a Philippine-led military training exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and US forces that will run until Oct. 18, according to Capt. Felix Serapio, director of the Marine Corps Public Affairs Office.
Maj. Gen. Ramiro Manuel Rey, chief of the Northern Luzon Command, led the opening ceremony of the exercise at the Subic Bay International Airport here on Wednesday morning.
According to Serapio, the drill focuses on combined interoperability activities and humanitarian projects.
Troops from the Japan Self-Defense Forces are also joining the war games.
The participating forces will engage in assault amphibious vehicle and low-altitude air defense training, Serapio said.
The training will be held simultaneously in different locations, including Cavite, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Pampanga and Palawan./lzb
