PH, US Marines take part in military exercises

MANILA, Philippines — Low key bilateral exercises between the Philippines and the US Marine Corps officially kicked off on Tuesday with a contingent from the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) taking part as a third-party.

Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Ariel Caculitan led the formal opening of the fifth iteration of the “Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat,” or Kamandag exercise in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, which will be participated in by some 250 military personnel. Caculitan said 12 US Marines, 25 JGSDF personnel and 242 Philippine Marines are participating in this year’s exercises.

—Jeannette I. Andrade