The Philippines and the United States conducted an amphibious assault exercise in Aborlan, Palawan, near the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) announced that its 3rd Marine Brigade and Combat Support Brigade, along with the U.S. Marine Corps’ Battalion Landing Team 1/5 and other units, carried out the exercise at Long Point in Barangay Apurawan.
The PMC explained that this exercise is part of the activities for the eighth iteration of Kaagapay ng Mandirigma sa Dagat (Kamandag 08-24), which is conducted annually by the PMC and USMC.
Participating countries in this iteration include Japan, Australia, South Korea, and the UK. Additionally, the French Armed Forces, Royal Thai Marine Corps, and Indonesian Kor Marinir will observe the event.
The primary objective of the exercise is “to strengthen the interoperability of the Philippines and United States’ Armed Forces while promoting regional security and cooperation,” according to the PMC.
“It also serves as a platform for cooperation among like-minded countries to enhance and promote a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region,” the PMC added.
Captain Marissa Meriel, Public Information Officer for the 3rd Marine Brigade, stated that the successful amphibious assault exercise was also a result of close coordination and support from local government units in the province.
