INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines kicked off on Monday its weeklong exercise on cyber defense (Cydex), adopting cyberspace as the fourth domain of military operations for its initial activity in the major service commands’ joint exercise.
Cydex was chosen to start the AFP’s 2021 joint exercise “Dagit-PA,” which stands for Dagat (Sea), Langit (Sky)-Lupa (Land).
According to Maj. Gen. Francisco Ariel Felicidario III, chief of the AFP Education Training and Doctrine Command, “The goal of this year’s Cydex is to protect, detect, respond and recover from cyber attacks in order to maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the AFP Cyber Infostructure and Systems.”
The exercise from Nov. 8 to Nov. 19, aimed at enhancing the readiness and competency of the military’s cyber forces in the conduct of joint cyberspace operations, was participated in by personnel from the AFP cyber group; the AFP communications, electronics, and information systems service; and the Army, Navy and Air Force cyber units.