THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced on Monday that the 3rd Marine Brigade (3MDBE) carried out a large-scale amphibious landing exercise on May 4 in Balabac, Palawan, as part of this year’s “Balikatan” Exercise.
“The training simulated the retaking of a strategic island, focusing on joint forcible entry operations, beachhead establishment, and inland objective securing,” the AFP said.
It added that the drill in Palawan was part of the Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations (MKTSO).
However, it did not give the specific number of participating personnel and assets used in the activity for security reasons.
“Conducted alongside the United States Armed Forces and the Australian Defence Force—with observers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and UK Royal Marines—it showcased the growing interoperability and cohesion among partner nations in maintaining regional security,” the AFP said.