Phl-US military exercises set in October

MANILA, Philippines - About 1,000 Filipino and US Marines and sailors will hold military exercises in the Philippines in October.

The exercises may be held in Crow Valley in Tarlac, Ternate in Cavite, Zambales, and in Metro Manila.

Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said the annual Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) has been slated tentatively for Oct. 7 to 17.

“(The activities will be) focused in the areas of war fighting, disaster response and nation building,” he said.

“Usually, they also conduct civil-military operations at designated training sites. The purpose is to promote interoperability between the Philippine Marine Corps and the US Marine Corps.”

Last year, about 2,200 American and 1,600 Filipino troops participated in the 29th PHIBLEX from Oct. 8 to 18.

Other joint US-Philippine military drills are the Balikatan exercises and the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training or CARAT.