Philippine, Malaysian armies hold joint defense exercise

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The Army’s 10th Infantry Division and a group of soldiers from Malaysia launched in Mawab town in Davao de Oro on Monday, June 1, a 12-day joint territorial defense planning exercise, meant to boost the security preparedness of both sides under Asian settings.

Radio reports on Tuesday stated that the Philippine-Malaysian territorial defense exercise at Camp Gen. Manuel Yan in Barangay Tuboran in Mawab, where the 10th ID's headquarters is located, will last until June 12.

Officials of the 10th ID and their superiors in the Eastern Mindanao Command told reporters on Monday that the activity, dubbed Training Activity Land MalPhi 24/2026, is meant to boost the defense cooperation and enhance the interoperability of the Philippine and Malaysian Armies.

Major Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the 10th ID, told reporters on Tuesday that the activity involves soldiers under him and counterparts from the Malaysian Army.

“This joint initiative demonstrates our shared commitment to strengthening defense cooperation, enhancing interoperability, and building mutual trust among partner armed forces,” Luzon said.

Local executives were quoted in Tuesday’s radio reports as saying that they support the conduct of the  Training Activity Land MalPhi 24/2026  in Davao de Oro, one of the provinces in Region 11.

Members of the multi-sector Davao de Oro Provincial Peace and Order Council said the Malaysian participants to the 12-day defense workshop shall see how peaceful their province is and discover its investment potentials that they can talk about with their compatriots when they get back to Malaysia.