Filipino, US marines hold live-fire drills inside former rebel camp in Maguindanao

JOINT EXERCISE Filipino and American Marines staged the live-fire exercise on Saturday in the jungles of Barira, Maguindanao del Norte. JEOFFREY MAITEM

BARIRA, MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE, Philippines — Amid heightened territorial dispute between China and the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Filipino and American Marines conducted the first live-fire exercises on Saturday inside what used to be a camp of the country’s largest Moro rebel group in Mindanao.

The day-long drills on combat marksmanship under Marine Exercise (Marex) 2024, was carried out inside Camp Abubakar, former territory of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that was captured and taken over by government forces during an all-out war against the rebels in 2000.

Brig. Gen. Eric Macaambac, commander of the 1st Marine Brigade, said around 40 members of the US Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and 350 troops from the Philippine Marines, Navy and police participated in the drills aimed at honing their skills in marksmanship.

He said the troops would stay until April 19 to train on maritime security operations, amphibious assault operations, counterterrorism and special operations to include air and surface force insertion.

Night jungle operation

Marex 2024 came on the heels of China’s latest violent actions in the WPS, Manila’s name for the parts of the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone.

On March 23, vessels from China Coast Guard and its maritime militia impeded and fired water cannons at Philippine Coast Guard ships accompanying boats on a supply mission to the country’s military outpost on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, injuring three Filipino sailors.

Macaambac said selected troops, equipped with night vision goggles, conducted a simulated night jungle operation on Friday.

“We are optimistic about enhancing our capacity to collaborate effectively and efficiently in addressing diverse crisis situations,” said Marine Col. Zaldy Dioneda, deputy brigade commander.

The exercises were covered by the two countries’ 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty that called for both countries to aid each other in times of aggression by an external power. In previous pronouncements, the Pentagon said it was prepared to assist Manila if it invoked the treaty amid threats from other nations.

Later this month, the US and the Philippines plan to conduct their annual Balikatan military exercises involving some 11,000 American and 5,000 Filipino troops in the South China Sea.